Gaming system and method for providing and redeeming partial wagering game outcomes

ABSTRACT

Methods, computer readable media and systems related to wagering games, and in particular those that concern providing and redeeming partial game outcomes. One example method includes receiving a completion request from a player who is operating a gaming device to complete at least one partial game outcome. The partial game outcome was previously provided to the player, who used a first device that is different than the gaming device. This example method includes determining that the player is entitled to a complete game outcome, displaying the partial game outcome on the gaming device, determining the complete game outcome, and then displaying the complete game outcome.

PRIORITY CLAIM

This application is a continuation of, claims priority to and thebenefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/533,799, filed on Jun.26, 2012, which is a continuation of, claims priority to and the benefitof U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/307,705, filed on Feb. 18, 2009,now U.S. Pat. No. 8,221,215, which is a national stage application ofPCT/US07/79550, filed on Sep. 26, 2007, which claims the benefit of andpriority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/826,958, filed onSep. 26, 2006, the entire contents of which are each incorporated byreference herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to methods, systems, andcomputer readable media applicable to providing and redeeming partialwagering game outcomes. The wagering games include those that aretypically played using electronic game devices, such as slot machines,video poker machines and the like, and that may be used by players in acasino to play wagering games.

Advantages and features of the invention will become apparent uponreading the contents of this document, and the nature of the inventionmay be more clearly understood by reference to the following detaileddescription of the invention, the appended claims and to the drawingsattached hereto.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram of a system in accordance with theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a simplified block diagram of a gaming device suitable for usewith the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3A is a simplified flowchart of an embodiment of a process inaccordance with the invention for determining a partial outcome,outputting the partial outcome, receiving a request for a completeoutcome, determining a complete outcome, and outputting the completeoutcome to a device in a legalized gambling jurisdiction;

FIG. 3B illustrates an embodiment of a process for determining partialoutcomes and displaying them to a player in accordance with theinvention;

FIG. 3C illustrates an embodiment of a partial outcome database inaccordance with the invention that may be used in association with theprocess of FIG. 3B;

FIG. 3D illustrates another embodiment of a process for determiningpartial outcomes and displaying them to a player in accordance with theinvention;

FIG. 3E illustrates an embodiment of a partial outcome database inaccordance with the invention that may be used in association with theprocess of FIG. 3D;

FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a “standard play and partial outcomepaytable” for use in association with a selected type of wagering gameand used for determining both partial outcomes and completed outcomes,in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates a “Partial Results Achieved Database” that may bemaintained by a casino server and/or a remote gaming device inaccordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6A illustrates a “Jackpot-Jackpot Completion Paytable” for a “BigJackpot Slot Machine” operable to facilitate both standard play andpartial outcome completion in accordance with an embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 6B illustrates a “Bar-Bar Completion Paytable” for a “Big JackpotSlot Machine” for use in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5C illustrates a “Bell-Bell Completion Paytable” for a “Big JackpotSlot Machine” for use in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5D illustrates a “Cherry-Cherry Completion Paytable” for a “BigJackpot Slot Machine” for use in accordance with an embodiment of theinvention; and

FIG. 7 illustrates a “Jackpot-Jackpot Completion Paytable” having apositive expected value (EV) in accordance with an embodiment of theinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Wagering game players desire things such as the ability to gambleonline, an “edge” or perceived edge when gambling, rewards for theirpatronage, and to realize vacation fantasies at the planning andpre-planning stages. Casinos may find it desirable to attract newcustomers, get more play and/or loyalty from existing customers, and“traffic manage” patrons who visit their casino floor to desirablelocations (route players to underutilized locations, and/or routeplayers to locations offering new experiences, and the like).Manufacturers of gaming devices desire loyalty to their brand and trialof their newest games.

Given these various desires, described herein are methods, systems andcomputer readable media whereby players can receive partial or “pseudo”game outcomes by using an electronic device (a first device) that may belocated outside of a legal gambling jurisdiction (for example, a playeruses a personal computer in the comfort of his home, which is located ina part of the country that is remote from a legalized gamblingjurisdiction, to visit a Website that is sponsored by a casino in alegalized gambling jurisdiction to obtain one or more partial gameoutcomes). The generated partial game outcomes can then be “completed”in the legalized gambling jurisdiction (for example, at a slot machineon the casino floor). The partial game outcomes that are providedremotely may entice players to visit a casino to receive thecorresponding complete wagering game outcomes.

I. System

A. General System Overview

FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram of a system 100 including acomputer 110 (e.g., a casino server) that is in communication, via acommunications network 120, with one or more devices, such as aplurality of gaming devices 130A, 130B (e.g., slot machines, video pokermachines, and the like), kiosks 132, casino personnel devices 134,merchant point-of-sale (POS) terminals 136, component devices 138 (e.g.,display screens, touch screens, and the like), peripheral devices 140(e.g., card readers) and the like. (Each block 130A to 140 may representnumerous devices of the type specified above.) The computer 110 may alsobe in communication with, via the communications network 120, one ormore internet servers 150 operable to administer a “partial outcomeswebsite”, for example, that may be accessed by one or more personalcomputers (PCs) 152, 154, 156 or similar devices that may be ownedand/or operated by players.

The computer 110 may communicate with the various devices directly orindirectly, via a wired or wireless medium such as the Internet, LAN,WAN or Ethernet, Token Ring, or via any appropriate communications meansor combination of communications means. Each of the devices may comprisecomputers, such as those based on the Intel® Pentium® processor, thatare adapted to communicate with the computer 110. Any number and type ofdevices may be in communication with the computer 110. Communicationbetween the devices and the computer, and among the devices themselves,may be direct or indirect, such as over the Internet through a Web sitemaintained by computer on a remote server or over an online data networkincluding commercial online service providers, bulletin board systemsand the like. In yet other embodiments, the devices may communicate withone another and/or the computer over RF, cable TV, satellite links andthe like.

Some, but not all, possible communication networks that may comprise thenetwork or be otherwise part of the system include: a local area network(LAN), a wide area network (WAN), the Internet, a telephone line, acable line, a radio channel, an optical communications line, and asatellite communications link. A variety of communications protocols maybe part of the system, including but not limited to: Ethernet (or IEEE802.3), SAP, SAS™, SuperSAS™, ATP, Bluetooth, and TCP/IP. Further, insome embodiments, various communications protocols endorsed by theGaming Standards Association of Fremont, Calif., may be utilized, suchas (i) the Gaming Device Standard (GDS), which may facilitatecommunication between a gaming device and various component devicesand/or peripheral devices (e.g., printers, bill acceptors, etc.), (ii)the Best of Breed (BOB) standard, which may facilitate communicationbetween a gaming device and various servers related to play of one ormore gaming devices (e.g., servers that assist in providing accounting,player tracking, content management, ticket-in/ticket-out andprogressive jackpot functionality), and/or (iii) the System-to-System(S2S) standard, which may facilitate communication between game-relatedservers and/or casino property management servers (e.g., a hotel servercomprising one or more databases that store information about bookingand reservations). Communication may be encrypted to ensure privacy andprevent fraud in any of a variety of ways well known in the art.

Those skilled in the art will understand that devices in communicationwith each other need not be continually transmitting to each other. Onthe contrary, such devices need only transmit to each other asnecessary, and may actually refrain from exchanging data most of thetime. For example, a device in communication with another device via theInternet may not transmit data to the other device for weeks at a time.In one embodiment, a server computer may not be necessary and/orpreferred. For example, the described processes may, in one or moreembodiments, be practiced on a stand-alone gaming device and/or a gamingdevice in communication only with one or more other gaming devices. Insuch an embodiment, any functions described as performed by the computeror data described as stored on the computer may instead be performed byor stored on one or more gaming devices.

B. Gaming Device

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an example embodiment 200 of a gamingdevice. The gaming device 200 may be implemented as a system controller,a dedicated hardware circuit, an appropriately programmedgeneral-purpose computer, or any other equivalent electronic, mechanicalor electromechanical device. The gaming device 200 may comprise, forexample, a slot machine, a video poker machine, a video blackjackmachine, a video keno machine, a video lottery machine, a pachinkomachine or a table-top game. In various embodiments, a gaming device maycomprise, for example, a personal computer (e.g., which communicateswith an online casino Web site), a telephone (e.g., to communicate withan automated sports book that provides gaming services), or a portablehandheld gaming device (e.g., a device similar to a personal digitalassistant (PDA), Nintendo™ GameBoy™ device, Sony™ PSP™ device, or otherappropriate device). The gaming device may comprise any or all of thegaming devices of the aforementioned systems.

In some embodiments, a gaming device may comprise a personal computer orother device, which may be operable to communicate with an online casinoand facilitate game play at the online casino. In one or moreembodiments, the gaming device 200 may comprise a computing deviceoperable to execute software that simulates play of a reeled slotmachine game, video poker game, video blackjack game, video keno game,video roulette game, or lottery game.

In some embodiments, a user device such as a PDA or cell phone may beused in place of, or in addition to, some or all of the gaming devicecomponents. For example, in some embodiments, a gaming device maycomprise a wireless handheld device similar to the WifiCasino GS offeredby Diamond I Technologies of Baton Rouge, La. In some embodiments, acasino server may generate partial outcomes and transmit them to aplayer's wireless handheld device (such as a cell phone). The partialoutcomes may be transmitted using text (SMS), multimedia (MMS), orvoicemail messages. It should be noted that partial outcomes may be verybrief. For example, a text message for a hand of video poker cards mayread: “Ace-hearts King-hearts Queen-hearts Three-diamondsFour-diamonds”, whereas a text message for three reels of a slot machine(wherein the fourth reel has not yet spun) may be: “bar-bar-bar-?”(wherein the question mark (“?”) is a place-holder that represents amissing icon and/or symbol required to provide a complete outcome).

Use by a player of a PDA or cell phone is advantageous because there isno need for player to rent a wireless handheld device from casino, andthere is no need for a casino to build and/or to stock custom devices.Furthermore, from the point of view of a casino, such a system isrelatively easy to set up, for example, because sending text messagesfrom a casino server is simple. In addition, use of a casino server orother type of gaming controller may facilitate passive gaming, whereinthere is no need for player to actively request outcomes. For example, awireless device such as a customized pager or a cell phone is easy andconvenient for the player to carry while engaged in activities outsideof casino (for example, playing golf or receiving a spa treatment). Suchdevices may be configured to receive, for example, text messages thatcontain partial outcomes according to, for example, a predeterminedschedule set up by the player. Thus, for example, a player may sign upto receive one partial outcome every five minutes between the hours ofone and three o'clock on Monday afternoons when she knows that she willbe food shopping. The player can choose to ignore, queue up, or reviewthe partial outcomes as they come in, or turn off her cell phone (forexample, while she is watching a movie) and have the partial outcomes gointo an electronic message box.

Referring to FIG. 2, the gaming device 200 includes a processor 205 thatmay communicate with a memory 210. The processor 205 is also operativelyconnected to a communications port 215 (e.g., so as to communicate withone or more other devices). The memory 210 may comprise an appropriatecombination of magnetic, optical and/or semiconductor memory, and mayinclude, for example, Random Access Memory (RAM), Read-Only Memory(ROM), a compact disc and/or a hard disk. The memory may comprise orinclude any type of computer-readable medium. The processor 205 and thememory 210 may each be, for example: (i) located entirely within asingle computer or other device; or (ii) connected to each other by aremote communication medium, such as a serial port cable, telephone lineor radio frequency transceiver. In one embodiment, the gaming device 200may comprise one or more devices that are connected to a remote servercomputer for maintaining databases.

The memory 210 stores a program 220 for controlling the processor. Theprocessor 205 may perform instructions of the program 220, and therebyoperate in accordance with various embodiments, and particularly inaccordance with the methods described in detail herein. The program 220may be stored in a compressed, un-compiled and/or encrypted format. Theprogram furthermore includes program elements that may be necessary,such as an operating system, a database management system and “devicedrivers” for allowing the processor 205 to interface with computerperipheral devices. Appropriate program elements are known to thoseskilled in the art, and need not be described in detail herein.

The memory 210 may also store one or more databases. For example, memory210 may store one or more of a probability database 225, one or more ofa payout database 230, and/or one or more of a player database 235 thatmay contain identity data associated with a plurality of players.

In some embodiments (e.g., in an embodiment in which a server managesdownloadable games playable on one or more gaming devices), the memory210 may store additional databases. Examples of such additionaldatabases include, but are not limited to, (i) a gaming device databasethat stores information related to one or more gaming devices with whichthe controller is operable to communicate; (ii) a game database thatstores information regarding one or more games playable on downloadableand/or currently active in association with one or more gaming devices;and (iii) a scheduling and/or configuration database useful fordetermining which games are to be made available on which gamingdevices.

Similarly, in one embodiment a server may be operable to configure agaming device 200 remotely, update software stored on a gaming deviceand/or to download software or software components to a gaming device.For example, a server may be operable to apply a hot fix to softwarestored on a gaming device, modify a payout and/or probability tablestored on a gaming device and/or transmit a new version of softwareand/or a software component to a gaming device. A server may beprogrammed to perform any or all of the above functions based on, forexample, an occurrence of an event (e.g., a scheduled event), receivingan indication from a qualified casino employee and/or other person(e.g., a regulator) and/or receiving a request from a player.Alternately or additionally, in some embodiments, a “peer-to-peer”relationship between a first and second gaming device may be utilized,such that a first gaming device may store content in one or moredatabases which may be accessed by a second gaming device, a firstgaming device may remotely configure a second gaming device, and so on.

The processor 205 in the example gaming device 200 may comprise one ormore Intel® Pentium® processors, or one or more processors manufacturedby other companies, such as Advanced Micro Devices, Incorporated. Theprocessor 205 is operable to communicate with a random number generator240, which in this example is a component of the gaming device 200. Therandom number generator, in accordance with at least one embodiment, maygenerate data representing random or pseudo-random values (referred toas “random numbers” herein). The random number generator 240 maygenerate a random number, for example, every predetermined unit of time(e.g., every thousandth of a second) or in response to an initiation ofa game on the gaming device 200. In the former embodiment, the generatedrandom numbers may be used as they are generated (e.g., the randomnumber generated at substantially the time of game initiation is usedfor that game) and/or stored for future use. A random number generatedby the random number generator 240 may be used by the processor 205 todetermine, for example, at least one of an outcome and payout.

A random number generator, as used herein, may be embodied as aprocessor separate from but working in cooperation with the processor.Alternatively, the random number generator may be embodied as analgorithm, program component, or software stored in the memory of thegaming device and used to generate a random number. Note that, althoughthe generation or obtainment of a random number is described herein asinvolving a random number generator of a gaming device, other methods ofdetermining a random number may be employed. For example, a gamingdevice owner or operator may obtain sets of random numbers that havebeen generated by another entity. HotBits™, for example, is a servicethat provides random numbers that have been generated by timingsuccessive pairs of radioactive decays detected by a Geiger-Muller tubeinterfaced to a computer. A blower mechanism that uses physical ballswith numbers thereon may be used to determine a random number byrandomly selecting one of the balls and determining the number thereof.

Of course, as would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, arandom number generator may be stored or housed or embodied in a deviceother than a gaming device. For example, in some embodiments, a gamingdevice 200 may receive random numbers and/or any other data related tothe random or pseudo-random determination of an outcome from a separatedevice, such as a server. It should be noted that such embodiments maybe advantageous in environments or jurisdictions wherein the “centraldetermination” of outcomes is required by regulation or otherwisepreferred. Thus, for example, outcomes may be determined centrally by aserver, and then propagated (e.g., electronically) such that indicationsof the outcomes may be viewed using one or more gaming devices (e.g.,“Class II” gaming devices, “thin-client”-oriented gaming devices in aserver-based “Class III” network architecture, Video Lottery Terminals,and so on).

The processor 205 may also be operable to communicate (e.g., via aprotocol such as GDS) with various component devices associated with thegaming device, including but not limited to benefit output devices 245,input devices 250, and/or input/output devices.

In some embodiments, a benefit output device 245 may be a component ofthe gaming device 200. The benefit output device 245 may comprise one ormore devices for outputting a benefit to a player of the gaming device200. For example, in one embodiment the gaming device 200 may providecoins and/or tokens as a benefit. In such an embodiment the benefitoutput device 245 may comprise a hopper and hopper controller, fordispensing coins and/or tokens into a coin tray of the gaming device. Inanother example, the gaming device 200 may provide a receipt or otherdocument on which there is printed an indication of one or more benefits(e.g., a cashless gaming ticket as is known in the art). In such anembodiment, the benefit output device 245 may comprise a printing and/ordocument dispensing mechanism. In yet another example, the gaming devicemay provide electronic credits as a benefit (which, e.g., may besubsequently converted to coins and/or tokens and dispensed from ahopper into a coin tray). In such an embodiment, the benefit outputdevice may comprise a credit meter balance and/or a processor thatmanages the amount of electronic credits that is indicated on a displayof a credit meter balance. In yet another example, the gaming device 200may credit a monetary amount to a financial account associated with aplayer as a benefit provided to a player. The financial account may be,for example, a credit card account, a debit account, a charge account, achecking account, or a casino account (e.g., an account from which theplayer may access cashable and/or non-cashable funds using a playertracking card or smart card). In such an embodiment the benefit outputdevice 245 may comprise a device for communicating with a server onwhich the account is maintained. Note that, in one or more embodiments,the gaming device 200 may include more than one benefit output device245. For example, the gaming device 200 may include both a hopper andhopper controller combination and a credit meter balance. Such a gamingdevice 200 may be operable to provide more than one type of benefit to aplayer of the gaming device. A single benefit output device may beoperable to output more than one type of benefit. For example, a benefitoutput device may be operable to increase the balance of credits in acredit meter and communicate with a remote device in order to increasethe balance of a financial account associated with a player.

The processor 205 may also be operable to communicate with other variousoutput devices. In some embodiments, an output device comprises adisplay device 255. The display device 255 may comprise, for example,one or more display screens or areas for outputting information relatedto game play on the gaming device 200, such as a cathode ray tube (CRT)monitor, liquid crystal display (LCD) screen, or light emitting diode(LED) screen. In one or more embodiments, a gaming device 200 maycomprise more than one display device 255. For example, a gaming device200 may comprise an LCD display for displaying electronic reels and adisplay area that displays rotating mechanical reels. The display device250 may comprise, for example, one or more display areas. For example,one of the display areas (e.g., a primary game screen) may displayoutcomes of games played on the gaming device 200 (e.g., electronicreels of a gaming device). Another of the display areas (e.g., asecondary game screen) may display rules for playing a game of thegaming device. Yet another of the display areas may display the benefitsobtainable by playing a game of the gaming device 200 (e.g., in the formof a payout table).

The processor 205 may also be in communication with one or more otheroutput devices besides the display device 250, for outputtinginformation (e.g., to a person or another device). Such other one ormore output devices may also be components of a gaming device 200. Suchother one or more output devices may comprise, for example, an audiospeaker (e.g., for outputting an outcome or information related thereto,in addition to or in lieu of such information being output via a displaydevice); headphones; an infra-red transmitter; a radio transmitter; anelectric motor; a printer (e.g., such as for printing cashless gamingtickets); a dispenser for outputting pre-printed coupons, tickets orvouchers; an infra-red port (e.g., for communicating with a secondgaming device or a portable device of a player); one or more universalserial bus (USB) ports; a Braille computer monitor; and a coin or billdispenser. For gaming devices, common output devices include a cathoderay tube (CRT) monitor on a video poker machine, a bell on a gamingdevice (e.g., rings when a player wins), an LED display of a player'scredit balance on a gaming device, an LCD display of a personal digitalassistant (PDA) for displaying keno numbers.

The processor 205 may also be in communication with one or more inputdevices, which may be capable of receiving an input (e.g., from a playeror another device) and which may be a component of gaming device 200.Alternately or additionally, an input device may communicate with or bepart of another device (e.g., a server, a gaming device, etc.). Someexamples of input devices include: a bar-code scanner, an opticalscanner configured to read other indicia of a voucher or cashless gamingticket, a CCD camera, a magnetic stripe reader (e.g., for reading dataencoded upon a player tracking card), a smart card reader (e.g., forreading data stored upon a smart card), a computer keyboard or keypad, abutton, a handle, a lever, a keypad, a touch-screen, a microphone, aninfrared sensor, a voice recognition module, a coin or bill acceptor, asonic ranger, a computer port, a video camera, a motion detector, adigital camera, a network card, a universal serial bus (USB) port, a GPSreceiver, a radio frequency identification (RHO) receiver, an RFreceiver, a thermometer, a pressure sensor, an infrared port (e.g., forreceiving communications from a second gaming device or from a anotherdevice such as a smart card or PDA of a player), and a weight scale. Forgaming devices 200, common input devices include a button or touchscreen on a video poker machine, a lever or handle connected to thegaming device, a magnetic stripe reader to read a player tracking cardinserted into a gaming device, a touch screen for input of playerselections during game play, and a coin and bill acceptor.

The processor may also be in communication with a payment system 260,which may be a component of the gaming device 200. The payment system260 is a device capable of accepting payment from a player (e.g., a betor initiation of a balance) and/or providing payment to a player (e.g.,a payout). Payment is not limited to money, but may also include othertypes of consideration, including products, services, and alternatecurrencies. Exemplary methods of accepting payment by the payment system260 may include (i) receiving hard currency (i.e. coins or bills), andaccordingly the payment system 260 may comprise a coin or bill acceptor;(ii) receiving an alternate currency (e.g., a paper cashless gamingticket, an electronic credit, a coupon, a non-negotiable token), andaccordingly the payment system 260 may comprise a bar code reader orother sensing means; (iii) receiving a payment identifier (e.g., acredit card number, a debit card number, a player tracking card number,a financial account identifier) and debiting the account identified bythe payment identifier; and (iv) determining that a player has performeda value-added activity (e.g., participating in surveys, monitoringremote images for security purposes, referring friends to the casino).

Processor 205 is further operable to communicate with a player trackingdevice 265, which may be a component of the gaming device 200. Playertracking device 265 may, in some embodiments, be considered an exampleof an input device 250 and/or an example of a payment system 260 (e.g.,in embodiments in which a player provides a payment by providing aplayer identifier that also functions as a monetary account identifier).Player tracking device 265 may, in one or more embodiments, comprise areader device operable to read information from and/or write informationto a card such as a smart card and/or a player tracking card, such that(i) players may be identified, and (ii) various data associated withplayers may then be determined. For example, previous wagering, coin-inand/or cash-out behaviors previously engaged in by the player may bedetermined based on information associated with the player identifier.In another example, previous strategies employed in a video poker gamemay be similarly determined. Similarly, a number of cashable creditsavailable to the player may be determined, a code or other indication ofa benefit to be provided to the player may be determined, a number ofaccumulated loyalty points associated with the player may be determined,a number of accumulated game elements such as symbols, cards or handsassociated with the player may be determined, etc.

In one embodiment, the player tracking device 265 may comprise (i) acard reader (e.g., a port into which player tracking cards may beinserted), (ii) various input devices (e.g., a keypad, a touch-screen),(iii) various output devices (e.g., a small, full-color display screen),and/or (iv) combinations thereof (e.g., a touch-sensitive display screenthat accommodates both input and output functions). Various commerciallyavailable devices may be suitable for such an application, such as theNextGen™ interactive player tracking panel manufactured by IGT™ or theiVIEW™ display screen manufactured by Bally Gaming and Systems™.

Of course, other non-card-based methods of identifying players arecontemplated. For example, a unique identification code may beassociated with the player. The player may then be identified uponentering the code. For example, the code may be stored (e.g., within adatabase 235 maintained within a gaming device 200 and/or maintainedwithin a central server) such that the player may enter the code usingan input device 250, and accordingly allow the player to be uniquelyidentified. In other embodiments, player biometrics may serve asidentification means (e.g., a player is identified via a thumbprint orretinal scan of the player). In further embodiments, a barcode of acashless gaming ticket may encode a player identifier.

Thus, as described, various data associated with a player may be trackedand stored (e.g., in an appropriate record of a centrally-maintaineddatabase), such that it may be accessed as desired. Further, variousstatistics may be measured in association with a player (e.g., coin-instatistics, win/loss statistics, buy-in amount for a play session) andsimilarly accessed.

In some embodiments, a gaming device 200 may comprise components capableof facilitating both input and output functions (i.e., input/outputdevices). In one example, a touch-sensitive display screen comprises aninput/output device (e.g., the device outputs graphics and receivesselections from players). In some embodiments, a touch-sensitive displayscreen may comprise force-feedback technology for outputting physicalstimulus to players (Immersion TouchSense®, an example of suchtechnology, is manufactured by Immersion Corporation of San Jose,Calif.). In another example, a processor may communicate with a“ticket-in/ticket-out” device configured to dispense and receivecashless gaming tickets as is known in the art. Such a device may alsoassist in (e.g., provide data so as to facilitate) various accountingfunctions (e.g., ticket validation and redemption). For example, any orall of a gaming device, kiosk and casino personnel device maintained ata cashier cage may (i) comprise such a benefit input/output device,and/or (ii) communicate with a central server that manages theaccounting associated with such ticket-in/ticket-out transactions (e.g.,so as to track the issuance, redemption and expiration of suchvouchers). One example of such ticket-in/ticket-out technology, the EZPay™ system, is manufactured by International Gaming Technology,headquartered in Reno, Nev.

It should be appreciated that one or more gaming device 200 embodimentsmay include storing graphic and/or sound elements that are used toconstruct a menu of options available for a player's selection via atouch screen. These elements may be stored, for example, in EEPROM,flash memory, hard disk, CD-ROM, or in any other suitable storagedevice. The menu may be displayed via any suitable display device, suchas a CRT, LCD, VFC, LED display. In one embodiment, the menu may beimplemented using only dedicated electromechanical switches. In oneembodiment, a player operates an input device of the gaming device tocause such a menu to be displayed. In one embodiment, a gaming deviceincludes a touch screen and a touch screen controller (not shown)associated with a video monitor display device. The touch screen andtouch screen controller may be operable to communicate with a videocontroller of the video monitor display device and a processor (e.g.,processor of gaming device). Thus, a player may be enabled to indicatedecisions (e.g., select an option for requesting completion of one ormore partial game outcomes) by touching the touch screen in theappropriate places.

In some embodiments, display of the menu of player options may preemptdisplay of other information. For example, in one embodiment the samedisplay device or screen used to display game play elements (e.g., videoreels of a slot machine) during active game play may be used to providea menu of available options. In another embodiment, a dedicated displaydevice or screen may be used to display a menu of available options on acontinuous, periodic, or other basis.

Of course, as would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, agaming device 200 may comprise various combinations of such componentdevices. For example, in one or more embodiments, the gaming device 200may include more than one display device 255, one or more other outputdevices, several input devices 250, and so on (e.g., two displayscreens, two audio speakers, a ticket-in/ticket-out device and severalbuttons).

The term “computer-readable medium” as used herein refers to any mediumthat participates in providing instructions to the processor 205 of thegaming device 200 (or any other processor of a device described herein)for execution. Such a medium may take many forms, including but notlimited to, non-volatile media, volatile media, and transmission media.Non-volatile media include, for example, optical or magnetic disks,flash memory, and the like. Volatile media include dynamic random accessmemory (DRAM), which typically constitutes the main memory. Transmissionmedia include coaxial cables, copper wire and fiber optics, includingthe wires that comprise a system bus coupled to the processor.Transmission media may carry acoustic or light waves, such as thosegenerated during radio frequency (RF) and infrared OR) datacommunications. Common forms of computer-readable media include, forexample, a floppy disk, a flexible disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, anyother magnetic medium, a CD-ROM, DVD, any other optical medium, punchcards, paper tape, any other physical medium with patterns of holes, aRAM, a PROM, an EPROM or EEPROM (electronically erasable programmableread-only memory), a FLASH-EEPROM, any other memory chip or cartridge, acarrier wave as described hereinafter, or any other medium from which acomputer can read.

Various forms of computer readable media may be involved in carrying oneor more sequences of one or more instructions to the processor 205 (orany other processor of a device described herein) for execution. Forexample, the instructions may initially be borne on a magnetic disk of aremote computer. The remote computer can load the instructions into itsdynamic memory and send the instructions over a telephone line using amodern. A modem local to a gaming device 200 (or, e.g., a server) canreceive the data on the telephone line and use an infrared transmitterto convert the data to an infrared signal. An infrared detector canreceive the data carried in the infrared signal and place the data on asystem bus for the processor. The system bus carries the data to mainmemory, from which the processor retrieves and executes theinstructions. The instructions received by main memory may optionally bestored in memory either before or after execution by the processor. Inaddition, instructions may be received via a communication port aselectrical, electromagnetic or optical signals, which are exemplaryforms of carrier waves that carry data streams representing varioustypes of information. Thus, the gaming device may obtain instructions inthe form of a carrier wave.

According to an embodiment, the instructions of the program may be readinto a main memory from another computer-readable medium, such from aROM. Execution of sequences of the instructions in program causesprocessor perform the process steps described herein. In alternateembodiments, hard-wired circuitry may be used in place of, or incombination with, software instructions for implementation of theprocesses described herein. Thus, embodiments of the present methods arenot limited to any specific combination of hardware and software. Asdiscussed with respect to aforementioned systems, execution of sequencesof the instructions in a program of a peripheral device in communicationwith the gaming device may also cause the processor to perform some ofthe process steps described herein.

The memory may store one or more databases described herein. Some or allof the data stored in each database is also described. The describedentries of the databases represent exemplary information only; thoseskilled in the art will understand that the number and content of theentries can be different from those illustrated herein. Further, despiteany description of the databases as tables, an object-based model couldbe used to store and manipulate the data types described herein andlikewise, object methods or behaviors can be used to implement thedescribed processes.

Where appropriate, a conventional probability database 225 may beutilized in the performance of the processes described herein. Aprobability database 225 may be stored in the data storage device intabular form, or any other appropriate database form, as is well knownin the art. The data stored therein may include a number of exemplaryrecords or entries, each defining a random number. Those skilled in theart will understand that the probability database 225 may include anynumber of entries. The tabular representation may also define fields foreach of the entries or records. The fields may specify: (i) a randomnumber (or range of random numbers) that may be generated by the randomnumber generator 240; and (ii) an outcome that indicates the one or moreindicia comprising the outcome that corresponds to the random number ofa particular record. A gaming device 200 may utilize a probabilitydatabase 225 to determine, for example, what outcome corresponds to arandom number generated by a random number generator and to display thedetermined outcome. The outcomes may comprise the three symbols to bedisplayed along the payline of a three-reel slot machine. Otherarrangements of probability databases are possible. For example, thebook “Winning At Slot Machines” by Jim Regan (Carol Publishing GroupEdition, 1997) illustrates examples of payout and probability tables andhow they may be derived. The entirety of this book is incorporated byreference herein for all purposes.

Further, where appropriate, a partial results achieved database 227 anda gaming device database 230 may be utilized. The partial resultsdatabase 227 and the gaming device database 230 may be stored in thedata storage device 210 in tabular form, or any other appropriatedatabase form. Data stored in the partial results achieved database 227and the gaming device database 230 may include a number of examplerecords or entries, each defining an outcome that may be obtained on agaming device 200 that corresponds to a payout. For example, the partialresults achieved database 227 may include data such a player identifier,partial results, completion paytable identifiers and a completionindicator field, and the gaming device database 230 may include outcomeidentifiers, probability data, payout data, and expected value data foruse in the performance of the processes described herein. Those skilledin the art will understand that the partial results achieved database227 and the gaming device database 230 may include any number ofentries. The tabular representation also defines fields for each of theentries or records, for example, particular fields may specify: (i) anoutcome, which indicates the one or more indicia comprising a givenoutcome; and (ii) a payout that corresponds to each respective outcome.The outcomes may be those obtained on a three-reel slot machine.

A gaming device 200 may utilize the gaming device database 230 todetermine whether a payout should be output to a player as a result ofan outcome obtained for a game. For example, after determining theoutcome to output on the gaming device 200, the gaming device may accessthe gaming device database 230 to determine whether the outcome foroutput is one of the outcomes stored as corresponding to a payout. If itis, the gaming device may provide the corresponding payout to theplayer.

Other arrangements of payout databases are possible. For example, thebook “Winning At Slot Machines” by Jim Regan (Carol Publishing GroupEdition, 1997) illustrates many examples of payout and probabilitytables and how they may be derived.

Additionally, where appropriate, a player database may be utilized tostore historical data associated with specific players. A playerdatabase may be used, for example, to store player wager data so thatplayers wagering over a given threshold in a given amount of time may berewarded for their patronage. The player database may also contain otherinformation that may be useful in, for example, promoting and managingplayer behaviors (e.g., information about the player's gamingpreferences, gaming sessions, outstanding debts, lodging arrangements,and the like). Further, the player database may store data regarding agiven player's standing in a game session or bonus game, so that theplayer can continue the game session or bonus game at a plurality ofgame machines that have common access to the player database. Suchplayer data may be stored in a relational database and retrieved orotherwise accessed by the processor 205 after receiving a “key” datapoint from the player, such as a unique identifier read from theplayer's player tracking card or cashless gaming ticket, PIN or codeentered by a player using an input device 250 of a gaming device 200,and so on.

Note that, although these databases may be described as being stored ina gaming device, in other embodiments some or all of these databases maybe partially or wholly stored in another device, such as one or more ofthe peripheral devices, the peripheral device server, central server,kiosks, casino personnel devices, merchant POS terminals, and so on.Further, some or all of the data described as being stored in thedatabases may be partially or wholly stored (in addition to or in lieuof being stored in the memory of the gaming device) in a memory of oneor more other devices, such as one or more of the peripheral devices,another gaming device, the peripheral device server and/or the server.

In an embodiment, a gaming device may be operable to facilitatedownloadable games such that games available for play on the gamingdevice may be stored on a server device (e.g., a server or anotherdedicated device) and downloaded to the gaming device, hi an embodiment,software components of the gaming device may be remotely modified and/orupdated by another device (e.g., a server or another device). Forexample, a payout table or probability table stored in the memory of agaming device may be altered, modified or updated remotely, hot fixesmay be applied to software stored by the gaming device and/or newversions of software may be downloaded to the gaming device. Similarly,the gaming device may be programmed to retrieve any or all such updatesfrom another device, as appropriate and preferred. Any of the above(e.g., downloading of a game, updating of software, modification of apayout or probability table) may occur, for example, based upon anoccurrence of an event (e.g., a scheduled event), an indication beingreceived from qualified casino personnel or other personnel (e.g., aregulator), and/or upon a request from a player. In an embodiment, agaming device may comprise a thin client device controlled be a serverdevice (e.g., a server or another dedicated device such a peripheraldevice server).

C. Gaming Device as Slot Machine

As discussed herein, in one or more embodiments the game device may takethe form of a slot machine configured to operate in conjunction withvarious embodiments. A more specific description of a slot machinesuitable for such purposes follows.

A slot machine for use with the described processes may comprise, forexample, a three-reel or five-reel slot machine. The slot machinecomprises a display area in which an outcome for a game of the slotmachine is displayed to the player. The display area may, for example,be a video display that displays graphical representations of reels. Thedisplay area may, in another example, be glass behind which are locatedmechanical reels. Within the display area is at least one payline. Inaccordance with one or more embodiments, an outcome of a game is a setof symbols displayed along a payline of a reeled slot machine. The slotmachine may further comprise a handle. A player may initiate themovement of the reels in the display area by pulling on the handle.Alternatively, a player may initiate the movement of the reels in thedisplay area by actuating a start button or “spin” button (such a buttonmay alternately be labeled “daub” in a Class II gaming environment or“enroll” in an environment where outcomes are requested from anddetermined by a device other than the gaming device). Either or both ofthe handle and start button are exemplary embodiments of an inputdevice, described herein.

Where appropriate, the slot machine may also include an alternate,secondary game screen, for outputting information (e.g., payoutinformation, outcome information, etc.) to a player. The secondary gamescreen may be utilized, for example, to inform a player of the player'sstanding in a game. The slot machine may be capable of altering displayand audio content as described herein (e.g., superimposing graphics overdigital displays; a mask layer between physical reels and a player thatshades or otherwise alters their appearance).

The slot machine may also include a payment system, which is comprisedof a bill acceptor, a credit card reader, a coin acceptor, and/or aticket-in/ticket-out device (TITO device). The TITO device may beconfigured to read a barcode or other code printed on, for example, acashless ticket that indicates a cash amount. A player may utilize thepayment system to provide a wager for playing a game and/or forproviding payment for provision of an outcome.

The slot machine may further comprise a credit meter balance, which isan exemplary embodiment of a benefit output device described herein. Thecredit meter balance reflects the amount of electronic credits currentlyavailable to a player. The player may use the electronic credits, forexample, as wagers for games played on the gaming device. The electroniccredits may also be “cashed out” as coins, bills, tokens, a cashoutticket, a cashout strip, and/or electronic credits to another financialaccount associated with the player.

Finally, the slot machine may include a coin tray. Payment may berendered to a player by dispensing coins into the coin tray. Such coinsmay be dispensed based on, for example, a player's indication that theplayer would like to cash out his credit meter balance and/or a payoutobtained by a player as a result of playing a game on the slot machine.The coin tray is an exemplary embodiment of a benefit output device,described herein. Note that, where appropriate, the slot machine mayinclude different and/or additional components besides those discussedin this section, as desirable and/or as required.

D. Other Devices

A “remote gaming device” may determine (e.g., randomly, by selecting apartial outcome from a predetermined list of partial outcomes) andindicate one or more partial outcomes. A remote gaming device maycomprise, for example: a personal computer, a handheld and/or wirelessdevice (for example, a device designed specifically for gamingapplications, or a general use device such as a cell phone, PDA oriPod™), a hotel room television and/or set-top box, a cable televisionunit, and the like. Partial outcomes may be (i) stored in memory of suchdevice; (ii) stored in memory of a server device in communication withthe remote device; (iii) generated/determined randomly by the remotedevice, etc. Thus, such a remote gaming device may comprise: (i) one ormore output devices for outputting partial outcomes (e.g., a displayscreen, speakers), (ii) one or more input devices (e.g., a button that aplayer may actuate to signal his desire to view/generate a partialoutcome), (iii) a memory (e.g., for storing a software program toexecute one or more steps, for storing one or more databases, and thelike), and/or (iv) a communications port (e.g., for communicating with aserver).

E. Retrofitting Existing Gaming Devices

In one or more embodiments, various aspects, such as determining andcompleting partial outcomes previously provided to a player, may bepracticed by replacing and/or augmenting one or more components (e.g.,hardware and/or software components) of an existing gaming device. Thus,in one or more embodiments, existing gaming devices currently availablefor play within various casinos may be retrofit or upgraded toaccommodate the processes described herein.

For example, a memory (e.g., computer chip) of the gaming device may bereplaced or added, the replacement or additional memory storing aprogram for instructing the processor of the gaming device to operate inaccordance with one or more embodiments described herein. In anotherexample, data output via the gaming device (e.g., graphical and/ortextual data displayed on the gaming device) may be replaced or added,the replacement or additional data indicating to a player informationrelevant to one or more aspects described herein.

In a specific example, a gaming device may comprise various electroniccomponents mounted to one or more printed circuit boards (PCBs). Suchcomponents may include various hardware devices and/or componentsdescribed herein, such as a communications port and various controllersof peripheral devices (e.g., a display controller), as well as a memoryfor storing programming instructions (software) and a processor forcarrying out such instructions. One form of memory commonly found ingaming devices is electronically erasable programmable read-only memoryor erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM or EPROM). Thus, inone or more embodiments, an EEPROM storing software with instructionsfor carrying out aspects of the described processes (as well asinstructions for carrying out other functions traditionally performed bythe gaming device) may replace an EEPROM previously installed in agaming device, such that the gaming device may be configured to operatein accordance with the various processes disclosed herein.

For example, a “partial outcome module” may be made available forpurchase to various casino operators. The module, which may comprisevarious hardware and software (e.g., an EEPROM storing softwareinstructions), may be installed in an existing gaming device (e.g., avideo-reel slot machine, a video poker machine, etc.), such that whenthe module is installed, players of the device may elect (i) to play agame offered by the gaming device that does not incorporate aspects ofthe processes described herein, or (ii) to play a game offered by thegaming device in a manner that utilizes aspects of the processesdescribed herein. Thus, players who are familiar with the games offeredby various gaming devices may elect to pay for them in a different orsimilar manner, as they are accustomed.

Accordingly, a gaming device may be configured to allow a player toselect one of two “modes” of the gaming device, and to enable theselected mode. If a player selects a “standard” mode, the gaming devicemay be configured to operate in a manner similar to how it operatedbefore the installation of the module (e.g., the gaming device operatesin a conventional manner, such that aspects of the processes describedherein may not be utilized). If a player selects a “partial outcomeredemption” mode, the gaming device may then be operable to execute gameplay in accordance with one or more aspects of the processes describedherein. Thus, such a gaming device may be characterized as a “dual modegaming device” because it is capable of providing both a standard playmode of operation and a partial outcome redemption mode of operation.

For example, a touch-sensitive display screen may be configured tooutput a prompt asking a player to select a mode of operation from amenu. Such a prompt may be output in occurrence to various triggerconditions (e.g., coins, bills or tickets are inserted; a credit balanceincreases from zero to some other number; a player presses a “play”button; a motion, weight, infrared or other sensor detects the presenceof a player; and the like). Accordingly, a player may select a mode ofoperation (e.g., by pressing an appropriately labeled icon of atouch-sensitive display screen), and upon receiving the player'sselection, the gaming device may be configured to operate in theselected mode.

In some embodiments, as described, a peripheral device may be useful forimplementing one or more of the described processes into the operationof a conventional gaming device. For example, in order to avoid orminimize the necessity of modifying or replacing a program alreadystored in a memory of a conventional gaming device, an external orinternal module that includes a peripheral device may be inserted in,connected to, or otherwise associated with the gaming device.

In still further embodiments, rather than configure existing gamingdevices to execute various aspects described herein, such as byinstalling or connecting new hardware and/or software, software may bedownloaded into an existing memory of one or more gaming devices. U.S.Pat. No. 6,805,634 to Wells et al. teaches methods for downloading datato gaming devices in such a manner. The entirety of U.S. Pat. No.6,805,634 is incorporated by reference herein for all purposes. Thus, insome embodiments, an existing gaming device may be reprogrammed toaccommodate new functionality of the described processes without theneed, or by minimizing the need, to remove and replace hardware withinthe gaming device.

II. Processes

FIG. 3A is a simplified flowchart 300 illustrating an embodiment of anoverall process for determining a partial outcome, outputting thepartial outcome, receiving a request for a complete outcome, determininga complete outcome, and then outputting the complete outcome to a devicein a legalized gambling jurisdiction. It is contemplated that a playercould request a partial outcome of a wagering game in any of a number ofways, and could receive a complete outcome in a number of ways, whichwill be explained in detail below.

Referring to FIG. 3A, the example process 300 includes receiving arequest for a partial game outcome from a player using a remote device302 (such as a personal computer), determining a partial outcome 304 forthe player, and outputting the partial outcome for display to the player306. For example, a player may utilize a personal computer to bothrequest and receive the partial game outcome. In this embodiment, themethod includes storing data associating the partial outcome with aplayer identifier and/or with an account identifier 308. Such data maybe stored, for example, in a database that is accessible by a casinoserver. The example process also includes receiving a request 310 todetermine a complete outcome from a gaming device located in a legalizedgambling jurisdiction, wherein the complete outcome is associated withthe partial outcome provided by the player. The gaming device could be,for example, a personal computer that is located in the legalizedgambling jurisdiction, or a slot machine on the casino floor.

The method illustrated by FIG. 3A further includes determining thecomplete outcome 312, and then outputting the complete outcome 314 tothe gaming device, which is located in the legalized gamblingjurisdiction (for example, the gaming device may be a casino slotmachine that includes a display for viewing outcomes). It should benoted that, in some embodiments, some of the various process steps shownmay not be necessary, or may occur in an alternate order. In addition,both the first device and the gaming device may be located in the samejurisdiction (for example in a legalized gambling jurisdiction), or bothmay be located in different locations and/or jurisdictions.

FIG. 3B illustrates an example process 320 for determining partialoutcomes and displaying them to a player. In particular, the exampleprocess 320 includes receiving a request for a partial game outcome froma player 322, generating a random number 324, determining a partialoutcome based on the random number 326, displaying the partial outcome328 to the player, and storing the partial outcome in a partial outcomedatabase 330. In an implementation, the player uses a remote device(such as a cell phone, PDA, an internet communication device, or apersonal computer) to request the partial game outcome, and the partialgame outcome could be displayed or otherwise provided to the player onthat same remote device. In some embodiments, the random number may begenerated by a gaming device, and the gaming device may also determinethe partial outcome based on that random number. In other embodiments,the random number may be generated by a third device, and the gamingdevice (or other device controlled by an entity such as a casino) thendetermines the partial outcomes based on that random number. The methodof FIG. 3B also includes receiving a request from a gaming device 332 togenerate complete outcomes, accessing the partial outcome database basedon the request, and retrieving the partial outcome data 334. Next, thepartial outcome is authenticated and/or transmitted 336 to the gamedevice. Authentication may include validating an associated partialoutcome identifier, or a code, or a player identifier (which data couldbe stored in a partial outcome database, such as the database 340described below). In addition, the same gaming device that generated thepartial game outcome may also be used to generate the complete gameoutcome, or a different device may be used to generate the complete gameoutcome. In this embodiment, the partial game outcomes are generatedbefore any completed game outcomes are generated. However, it iscontemplated that partial game outcomes may be determined along with, orat the same time as, the complete game outcomes are determined, asexplained below.

FIG. 3C illustrates a partial outcome database 340 that may be used inassociation with the process 320 of FIG. 3B. The partial outcomedatabase includes a random numbers column 342, a partial outcome field344, and a partial outcomes identifier column 346. Accordingly,referring to the process 320 shown in FIG. 3B, when a request isreceived from a player to generate partial outcomes, the random numberthat is generated is used to determine a partial outcome and to assign apartial outcome identifier. For example, if a random number of “278” isgenerated, then the random number column 342 is consulted and thepartial outcome “Bell-Bell-?” is found and displayed to the player(wherein the question mark (“?”) is a place-holder that represents amissing icon and/or symbol required to provide a complete outcome). Apartial outcome identifier of “PO-000003” is also assigned. If a randomnumber of “7892” was generated instead, then the random number column342 indicates that the partial outcome is “Partial Non-Win”, which meansthat any non-winning combination may be displayed to the player (forexample, any non-winning combination such as “Bell-Bar-?” or“Jackpot-Cherry-?” could be displayed, because any such combinations,based on the definition of the slot machine game being played, do nothave any corresponding third reel outcome that could make any suchcombinations into a winning combination). In this case, a partialoutcome identifier of “PO-00000N” is also assigned.

FIG. 3D illustrates another example process 350 for determining partialoutcomes and displaying them to a player. This example process 350includes receiving a request for a partial game outcome 352 from aplayer, generating a random number 354, and then determining a completegame outcome 356 based on the random number. Next, the partial gameoutcome is determined based on the complete outcome 358, and the partialoutcome is displayed 360 to the player. Thus, in this implementation,the complete game outcomes and the partial game outcomes are generatedat the same time, by the same device. For example, a complete outcomesuch as “Jackpot-Jackpot-Bell” may be determined based on the randomnumber, but in such a case only the icons representing the first tworeels (“Jackpot-Jackpot-?”), which represent a partial game outcome, aredisplayed to the player. The process 350 also includes storing thecomplete game outcome and the partial game outcome 362 in a database,receiving a request from a gaming device 364, and accessing the databasebased on the request and retrieving the partial game outcome and thecomplete game outcome 366. In addition, the partial game outcome isauthenticated and/or transmitted 368 to the game device.

FIG. 3E illustrates a complete game outcome and partial game outcomedatabase 370 that may be used in association with the process 350 ofFIG. 3D. In particular, the database 370 includes a random numberscolumn 372, a complete game outcome column 374, a partial game outcomecolumn 376, and a partial outcomes identifier column 378. Accordingly,when a request is received from a player using a remote device togenerate partial outcomes, a random number is generated and then used tofirst determine a complete game outcome, then the partial game outcomeis determined based on the complete game outcome, and a partial outcomeidentifier from column 378 is assigned. For example, if a random numberof “174” is generated, then the random number column 372 is consultedand the complete game outcome “Bell-Bell-Cherry” is found. Accordingly,the associated partial game outcome “Bell-Bell-? (see column 376) isdisplayed to the player. A partial outcome identifier of “PO-000006” isalso assigned. In another example, if a random number of “1207” isgenerated, then according to the random number column 372 thecorresponding complete game outcome is “Cherry-Cherry-Cherry”.Accordingly, the associated partial game outcome “Cherry-Cherry? isdisplayed (see column 376) to the player, and a partial outcomeidentifier of PO-000008 is assigned. If a random number of “9892” wasgenerated instead, then the random number column 372 indicates that thepartial outcome is “Partial Non-Win”, which means that any non-winningcombination may be displayed to the player (as explained above, anynon-winning combination such as “Bell-Bar-?” or “Jackpot-Cherry-?” couldbe displayed, because based on the definition of the slot machine gamebeing played, there are no third reel outcomes that could turn suchcombinations into winning combinations). In this case, a partial outcomeidentifier of “PO-00000N” is also assigned.

In some embodiments, there is no charge for a player to request partialoutcomes (for example, by using his home computer), but a wager in thelegalized gambling jurisdiction is required from the player (i.e., aminimum required amount of money must be inserted into a gaming devicein the casino) before the complete outcome is output. For example, acasino might offer a “First Two Reels are Free Online!” program, wherebyplayers visit a Web site maintained by the casino, and spin a virtualthree-reel slot machine. For each spin the player executes, two of thethree slot reels may resolve, while a third reel remains unresolved(e.g., a partial outcome of “Bar-Bar-?” is randomly determined). Theplayer's partial results may be stored (e.g., a server at a casinostores “partial outcome identifiers” in association with a playeridentifier). Thus, the player may then visit the casino, place a wager,and one or more of his partial outcomes may be determined (e.g., theplayer inserts a player tracking card, inserts a wager, and requests anoption of “Redeem my partial results,” such that the partial results areaccessed from the server).

For example, a player enters a casino and sits in front of a “BigJackpot” slot machine, inserts his player card and is presented with amenu on the gaming device display (which may be a touch screen) thatincludes a touch-sensitive button labeled “access my partial results”.The player may use this button to access partial results from one ormore “head start” sessions that the player previously requested andreceived using his personal computer at home. Alternately, the playermay push a different touch-sensitive button labeled “standard play” tochoose and initiate a standard gaming session on the “Big Jackpot”gaming device, wherein a wager must first be inserted before the playeris able to spin the reels. But if the player uses the touch screen tochoose “access my partial results”, a Web server may be contacted andmay determine if the player is entitled to at least one complete gameoutcome. In an embodiment, a player identification from the player cardis transmitted to the Web server and used to determine if the playerobtained at least one partial game outcome at a remote device (forexample, he played at least one “head start” session on his personalcomputer). If the player is entitled to at least one complete gameoutcome, then a list of partial outcome(s) may be displayed on thegaming device display screen so that the player may choose which of thepartial outcomes he'd like to complete. After the player makes one ormore selections, another prompt may be presented indicating that theplayer must insert a wager (or wagers) so that a complete game outcomeassociated with each partial game outcome can be determined. Forexample, if the player chose the partial result “Bar-Bar-?” forcompletion, then after inserting a wager, the complete result may berandomly determined by the gaming device to be “Bar-Bar-Plum”, and thisresult is then displayed to the player. Other results, such as“Bar-Bar-Bell” are also possible, and also would be displayed to theplayer. If any particular complete game outcome is associated with awinning outcome, then the player is provided with a benefit such as apayout (which may be based on a paytable associated with the “BigJackpot” gaming device, and/or which may be at least partially based ondata in a “partial results achieved” database).

In some embodiments, a player may request one or more “head start”sessions that each includes a plurality of partial outcomes for awagering game, and the request may originate in a legalized gamblingjurisdiction (for example, from a personal computer located in a privatehome in Las Vegas, Nev.). After an hour of collecting the partialoutcomes, the player may decide to review them for ten minutes, and thenchooses which of the partial outcomes that she would like to bet on. Theplayer may then place a wager on each of the partial outcomes for whicha complete outcome is desired, and in such legalized gamblingjurisdictions, she may be provided with the complete outcomes for hereselected partial outcomes to the same personal computer. In such animplementation, the player may be permitted to charge any wagers to apre-existing player account, or to a personal credit card account. Inanother implementation, the player may request a partial outcome for awagering game by using her home computer in the legalized gamblingjurisdiction, but then be required to go to the casino to both place awager and to utilize a “partial outcome redemption” gaming device toobtain any desired complete outcomes.

In some implementations, partial outcomes that were obtained by a playerusing a remote device may later be released or “unlocked” based on aplayers gaming activities at a casino. Such operation may beparticularly applicable to positive expected value (EV) completion (toavoid the casino losing money), but is also possible for neutral EVcompletion (for entertainment purposes). For example, a player may berequired to operate a game machine for 30 minutes before unlocking acode (or unlocking that game machine) that can then be used to obtain acomplete outcome for a partial outcome that he generated online. Inanother example, partial outcomes may be unlocked to help a player getthrough cold streaks on a game machine. For example, if the player losesten spins of a slot machine in a row, then three partial outcomes whichhe generated previously by using a personal computer the night beforehis casino visit may be unlocked so that the player is provided withadditional chances to win, wherein the partial game outcomes may beassociated with a higher expected value than his previous standard playon that slot machine. Certain factors may be considered to unlockpartial outcomes so that a player can obtain complete game outcomes,which may include the duration of gaming, the money spent by the player,the amount of comp points earned by the player, and the current win/lossstreak of the player.

Numerous manners of determining such complete outcomes in associationwith partial outcomes are contemplated. One way of segregating themanner in which partial outcomes are resolved is by considering thefunctionality of a device within the casino that the player utilizes to“complete” the partial outcomes. For example, in some embodiments, agaming device within a casino may accommodate both “standard” play and“partial outcome completion” play, and such a dual gaming device couldbe used by a player for both regular play and to complete any partialoutcomes that the player generated.

In one embodiment, a slot machine may provide the same “expected value”(EV), which is the sum of the probability multiplied by the payout foreach outcome of all possible outcomes [sum of probability×payout foreach outcome], regardless of whether a player is executing a standardgame play or completing a partial outcome game play. For example, ineither case, the machine may be programmed to provide an average paybackof 95¢ for every $1 wagered (for example, a standard player wagers $1and wins 95¢ on average, and thus a player completing partial outcomegame play pays a $1 “completion fee” and wins 95¢ on average, and thelike). Various methods to facilitate such operation are described, butgenerally, it may be accomplished by providing different payouts for,and/or different probabilities of, achieving certain outcomes when theyare achieved via “partial outcome completion” or standard play (inparticular, different paytables may be used for standard players and forremote players). Such embodiments may be considered advantageous becausethe partial results provided remotely may not bestow any more or lessexpected value to an online player redeeming the partial results thanthat afforded to a standard player. Accordingly, the less influence theonline game may have over the ultimate result or the value provided tothe player, the further such a program may be from violating Internetgambling laws that may apply in various jurisdictions (for example, eventhough a player gets “Jackpot-Jackpot-?” online, his redemption of thepartial outcome yields the same EV as any standard game play, as theprobability of, and/or the payout for, achieving “Jackpot-Jackpot-?” areadjusted).

In some embodiments, players visiting a casino may utilize separate,dedicated gaming devices that facilitate only partial outcome redemption(and do not provide standard play). In one such embodiment, playersredeeming partial outcomes may be provided with a positive expectedvalue (EV) (although neutral and negative EV provisions arecontemplated). For example, it may cost a player a fee of $1 to completea partial outcome achieved online. However, when completing the partialoutcome, the player may achieve an average payout of more than $1 (forexample, an average payout of $1.25). Thus, the redemption of partialoutcomes may be considered a “positive EV” exchange for a player. It isrecognized that casinos would find it difficult to remain profitable ifthey were they to offer such positive EV to all their players. However,casinos may be willing to offer such a positive EV to certain types ofplayers (e.g., players in target demographics, prospective players, andthe like), or to offer such a positive EV for a limited time (forexample, for promotional purposes, and/or to introduce players to a newgaming device, and/or to encourage players to visit a casino at certaintimes of day or on certain days of the week). Thus, in one example, apositive EV may be provided to players through an online partial outcomeprogram, and the casino may be happy to write the cost off for thepositive EV games as marketing expense, perhaps charged to a “customeracquisition budget” or the like. Additionally, a casino might gainrevenue from administering a partial outcomes Website by pushingadvertising online.

A Website may be provided for players to navigate to and select one ormore wagering games for obtaining partial outcomes. Casino operatorscould utilize such Websites to provide a means for players to set uppreferred games, bets and payouts, and even to “play for free online”(for example, with “head starts” for video poker sessions, slot machinesessions, and the like), building customer loyalty in the process. Anetwork-based Internet pre-play application may be used to interfacewith the Website service to pick up where the players left off oncethese players visit the casino to complete their “head-start” games.Fees could be imposed, for example, for twenty dollars ($20) per month,a player may play an unlimited number of “head start” sessions online,and be able to use advanced customization functions and other onlineservices. Other pricing structures could also be used, for example, toencourage play of a particular type of game. For example, in animplementation a player visits a Website and plays a free “head start”session that lasts for twenty (20) spins, and if the player achieves acredit balance over a predetermined threshold, then the player can starta “Guaranteed Play™” session within the casino at that threshold.

In another embodiment, Website features are provided that allow theplayer to customize his entire casino visit before going to the casinolocation, for example, by customizing the characteristics of a slotmachine game such as its look and feel (for example, setting the colorscheme and/or the design patterns and/or the theme of a game), and/or bycustomizing the payouts of the slot machine, and/or by indicating thetypes of marketing offers he would be interested in reviewing, and/or bymaking reservations for dinner and/or a show. In addition, in someembodiments loyalty points may be awarded to a player for playing acertain amount of “head start” sessions online, and such loyalty pointsmay only be redeemable at the casino location (exchangeable for variousproducts and/or services and/or for discounts on entertainment or otherservices, for example).

Players may be attracted to use such a Website to be afforded with theopportunity to “play for free” online, and/or to establish one or more“head start” sessions in preparation for a casino visit, and to receivereal value as a result. They may also use such a Website to play theirfavorite games during downtime at home or in the office, and then showup at the casino with real value already in hand, and with game settingstailored to their preferences. The casino builds loyalty by prolonging aplayer's interaction with the casino beyond the time the player spendson the casino floor, and also may use the Website for additionalmarketing and sponsorship opportunities.

A. Determining a Partial Outcome

In an embodiment, the device that determines partial outcomes is aserver computer. For example, a computer server within a casinodetermines partial outcomes and transmits them to one or more remotegaming devices. In an embodiment, a first server within the casinodetermines partial outcomes, and transmits the partial outcomes to asecond server within a casino, which stores indications of the partialoutcomes. The stored partial outcomes are accessed from the secondserver by a remote gaming device.

A player may use a remote viewing device, such as a wireless handheldgaming device, including hardware and/or software configured todetermine a partial outcome. In another embodiment, the player downloadsa software application from the Internet onto his personal computer, andthe software application determines the partial outcome. In yet anotherembodiment, a gaming device within a casino determines a partial outcomeand transmits the partial outcome to a Web server, so that the partialoutcome may be viewed online.

A partial outcome may be determined in various ways. For example, thepartial outcome may be predetermined (that is, non-random). For example,a matrix of predetermined partial outcomes may be stored electronically(e.g., in a database of a Web server). The stored partial outcomes maythen be selected and/or distributed for viewing and/or output in apredetermined, non-random manner (e.g., the “next” partial outcome in apredetermined sequence of partial outcomes is output in response to arequest for a partial outcome). Predetermined partial results may bebeneficial because operators or providers of partial outcomes may beable to arrange the partial outcomes in a manner that providesexcitement to players. For example, a partial outcome matrix may containmany “near wins” or “potentially winning partial outcomes” (e.g., alarge percentage of “Bar-Bar-?” or “7-7-?” partial outcomes, wherein thequestion mark (“?”) represents a missing icon and/or symbol required toprovide a complete outcome). Such close, potentially winning partialoutcomes or “near wins” may be disbursed or allocated by a casino orother entity in a manner that is exciting to players. For example, nearwins may be spread out evenly, or “Big” near wins(“Jackpot-Jackpot-Jackpot”) may appear at the end of a sequence.

For example, while visiting a casino in a legalized gamblingjurisdiction, a player purchases a “head start” session that includes a“batch” of 100 partial outcomes, which are pulled from a predeterminedmatrix (for example, a database) and stored on a wireless or handheldviewing device. (In one example, the device is “cradled” at a booth in acasino and the partial outcome data is transferred to the device fromthe server). The device then provides partial outcomes in sequence eachtime a player requests a spin. In another example, a Web server storesnumerous predetermined partial outcomes (which may be stored in batchesor groups). A player uses a Web-based application resident on a homepersonal computer (PC) that prompts the player to press a “spin” button,and when the player does so, the “next” partial outcome (e.g., of allstored partial outcomes of a “master” matrix, or of a “batch” of partialoutcomes associated with the player, etc.) is pulled from the server anddisplayed to the player. In this example, the player may be permitted topurchase a “head start” session online because the player resides in alegalized gambling jurisdiction (which may or may not include thelocation of the Web server which generates the partial outcomes). In yetanother example, a computer generates large numbers of partial outcomesand prints them onto paper, cardstock, or plastic. Such partial outcomecards may be distributed to players through a bricks-and-mortarmarketing channel (e.g., mailed out to players who reside in a legalizedgambling jurisdiction as part of a promotion, or given to players forfree as the players enter the casino, or handed out at retailestablishments such as supermarkets or gas stations located in alegalized gambling jurisdiction). Other means of distributing partialoutcomes (or “head start” sessions) are contemplated, includingproviding partial outcomes online, and could be used so long as any andall laws and regulations that govern gambling are followed.

In an implementation, a player may request one or more partial outcomesby using a designated “Partial Game Outcome” kiosk. For example, aplayer may be permitted to insert his player card, or TITO ticket, orsome other form of identification, into a partial game outcome kiosk andobtain a predetermined number (for example, fifty) partial outcomes of awagering game, such as “Big Jackpot” video slots. The kiosk may displayeach partial outcome to the player, and may also display the possiblewinning combinations, prizes and/or dollar amounts per wager that theplayer could win if he is lucky enough to obtain a complete game outcomethat results in a winning outcome. The kiosk may also be configured tooutput a TITO ticket, code, or other form of session identifier to theplayer for later use with a gaming device to access the partial gameoutcomes. In particular, the player may input the TITO ticket, code orother form of identifier to a gaming device on the casino floor requestpartial game completion (alternately, the player may only need to inserthis player card to access the partial game results that are eligible forcompletion). Next, as explained above, the player may be presented bythe gaming device with a display of his partial game outcomes in theorder in which they were originally provided, so that the player canselect which one(s) to complete. The gaming device may then prompt theplayer to insert a wager before providing one or more complete gameresults to the player. If any particular complete game resultcorresponds to a winning outcome, then the player is provided with abenefit, such as a payout (for example, a coin payout, or a cashlessgaming ticket, or a coupon, or any other type of token that isexchangeable for cash, or a token that otherwise has value).

In an embodiment, a player may select his own outcome. For example, aplayer uses a mouse to click on a Web page and to indicate that he wantsthe first two reels to be Jackpot-Jackpot. Such an embodiment isespecially applicable for neutral expected value implementations, andfor embodiments in which a player unlocks a partial outcome (which willbe explained below). In another example, a player at a slot machinecould reach up and move the physical reels on the slot machine. In yetanother example, a player continues to spin reels online until hereceives one or more satisfactory partial outcomes. The player can then“save” the satisfactory outcomes for completion at a gaming devicelocated in a casino.

In some embodiments, a player may only be allowed to spin and/or save alimited number of partial outcomes. For example, much like a standardgaming device, a device may generate a random result for the player, oneor more of the aforementioned devices (e.g., server, remote gamingdevice) may generate a random number (e.g., within a predetermined rangeof random numbers), and compare the random number to a table of partialoutcomes to determine a partial outcome.

In some embodiments, randomly determining a partial outcome may includedetermining a game type for which the partial outcomes will bedetermined. A player chooses a particular game by using a menu screen ofa Web site to select the game that he would like to play and for whichhe desires partial outcomes. For example, a “Select your game” screen ofa Web site offers a variety of Macromedia Flash™ games, and a playerselects “Big Jackpot Slots”. In some embodiments, the game type ispredetermined or standard. For example, the player uses a television andinterface available in a hotel room to select a “Head Start Gaming”option, and partial outcomes are then available for only one type ofstud poker game. In another example, a player purchases a block of 100partial outcomes of a “Magic Martians” slot game. The partial outcomesare provided on a DVD, which the player can then watch at his leisure.

In other embodiments a pay table is associated with a game type, and thepay table may correlate one or more random numbers to partial outcomes.For example, if different games are available for play remotely,different pay tables may be stored for each game type. The proper paytable may then be determined based on whichever game is selected by theplayer. For example, if a player selects a “Magic Martians” slot game,an appropriate table correlating random number ranges to partialoutcomes of the game is accessed. In another example, the player uses aWeb interface to select a game type. The Web server located in a casinocontains stored “partial outcome tables” for various game types. Theappropriate pay table is the selected from the stored pay tables.

In some embodiments, a random number is generated, and then a partialoutcome is determined. Such operation will be described in more detailbelow, but in general, a processor generates a random number within arange, and the generated random number corresponds to the partialoutcome (e.g., the random number 198738973 equals “Bell-Bell”).Generating the random number may comprise determining “partial outcomedata,” and may be used to determine other potentially relevantinformation such as a “partial outcome paytable,” a “partial outcomeID,” and the like, which is described in detail below.

Some embodiments employ a gaming device to facilitate standard play andpartial outcome completion in association with a “Neutral ExpectedValue” aspect. In some embodiments, a gaming device within a casino maybe available for both “standard” play and “completion” of partial gameoutcomes, and such a gaming device may be referred to as a “dual mode”gaming device. For example, a “Big Jackpot Slot Machine” game may beavailable on a slot floor, offering standard players (those players whoare wagering and playing the casino gaming machine in a legalizedgambling jurisdiction) complete results such as “Bar-Lemon-Bell” and“Jackpot-Jackpot-Jackpot”. Players may also visit a Web site and playthe “Big Jackpot Slot Machine” game and receive partial outcomes, suchas “Bar-Lemon” and “Jackpot-Jackpot.” Thus, in some embodiments, thesame set of complete outcomes may be available to both the standardplayers and the players who redeem partial outcomes. For example, aremote player requests partial outcome (e.g., uses mouse to click “spin”button depicted by Web interface) in association with a particular game.A random number is then generated (e.g., by a casino server) and apartial outcome is determined based on the random number.

FIG. 4A is an example of a “standard play and partial outcome paytable”400 that may be utilized in association with a type of game to determineboth partial outcomes and completed outcomes. In particular, thestandard play paytable portion 410 includes data stored in a randomnumbers column 415, outcome identifier column 420, complete outcomecolumn 425, probability of complete outcome column 430, payout column435, and expected value column 440. The partial outcome paytable portion450 includes data stored in a random number column 455, a partialoutcomes column 460, a partial outcomes identifier column 465 and acompletion paytable column 470.

Such a “standard play and partial outcome paytable” 400 for the ‘BigJackpot Slot Machine’ 405 may be stored by any or all of a gamingdevice, a server, and a remote gaming device. The paytable 400 includesa standard play paytable 410 may be used for standard play. For example,when a player walks up to “Big Jackpot” slot machine located in acasino, posts a wager, and presses a spin button. If, in response to thepressing of the spin button, the processor generates a random number of96, then the outcome is determined by looking up various data found inthe columns of the standard play paytable 410. In this case, the randomnumber 96 falls within a range of random numbers as shown in column 415that has an outcome ID 420 of “O-000005”, which corresponds to thecomplete outcome of “Bell-Bell-Bell” (see complete outcome column 425).The complete outcome “Bell-Bell-Bell” is displayed to the player and theplayer is also provided with a payout of 100 coins (see payout column435). This particular outcome has an Expected Value (EV) of 0.075 (seeentry corresponding to random number 96 in the EV column 440), whereasany one standard game play of this type of slot machine game (“BigJackpot Slot Machine” 405) results in an EV 475 of “0.9625” to beprovided to the player over time. This overall EV means that, in thelong run, the paytable 400 is constructed to give 96.25% of a player'swagers back to the player in the form of payouts.

The “standard play and partial outcome paytable” 400 may also be used torandomly determine a partial outcome for a player. For example, inresponse to a player request for generating a partial outcome, a randomnumber “168” is generated by any of the above-described devices (e.g., aserver, a remote gaming device). The partial outcome paytable 450 isthen used to determine that the random number 168 corresponds to apartial outcome of “Bell-Bell” (see partial outcome column 460).

The “standard play and partial outcome paytable” 400 could alternatelybe represented as two different tables. However, the data is presentedas shown in the present example to emphasize that the same ranges ofrandom numbers may be utilized to determine complete outcomes forstandard play and to determine partial outcomes for remote play.

It is recognized that an important consideration with respect to“EV-neutral” embodiments concerns making the online game feel valuableor “worth playing,” even though standard game players of the gamingdevice and players utilizing the same (or a similar) gaming device toredeem partial outcomes receive the same completed outcomes. Thus, ifonline players (i) receive partial outcomes with a frequency thatresonates with respect to how often they might receive associatedcomplete outcomes of the same game within a casino (e.g., the onlineprogram doesn't “just give them a bunch of losing partial outcomes”),and (ii) were able to attain the same payout amounts for completingpartial outcomes (e.g., a partial outcome of “Bell-Bell” becomes“Bell-Bell-Bell” and pays 100 coins) as standard players would forachieving the same outcomes (100 coins are paid to a “walk-up” player tosimply spin the reels of the standard play game device and attains“Bell-Bell-Bell”). As will be described further herein, theprobabilities may be adjusted for partial outcome completion, via aseparate completion paytable, so that a 100-coin payout can be providedfor “Bell-Bell-Bell” while maintaining a neutral overall EV.Consequently, the online game may feel more like a true “preview” or“portion” of a real game occurring within a casino, which offers legalpayouts, and less like a separate program (which players may deprecate,even if unreasonably, as having a lesser value).

In some embodiments, players may play an online game from a locationthat does not permit gambling, receive partial outcomes, and then“complete” the outcomes at a gaming device within a casino in alegalized gambling jurisdiction. In such an embodiment, a gaming devicemay be operable only to facilitate partial outcome completion (and notfacilitate standard play). For example, a “Partial Outcome RedemptionMachine” (for example, branded as a “Win From Home” machine) may bepositioned on a casino floor. Since such a machine cannot also be usedto facilitate standard local play, an online partial outcome program maynot be limited by the aforementioned concerns of making the onlineportion feel like a way to get a “head start” on a traditional slotmachine. Instead, the “Partial Outcome Redemption Machine” may simply beoffered as an “extra” game only available to players who first start thegame online. As described herein, in some embodiments, players may beoffered a “positive EV” (a fee players are charged to redeem partialoutcomes is less than the average amount they are paid out), with theextra cost to the casino justified by attracting new business (i.e., newplayers) via the online program. However, such embodiments may befacilitated using a “neutral” or even “negative” EV (e.g., playersreceive partial outcomes for free online, and then must spend $1 toredeem each, but receive only 90¢ in return per outcome as part of abuilt-in house edge).

In some embodiments, determining a partial outcome for a player may alsoinclude determining “partial outcome data” (further data). For example,based on a random number, one or more types of data may be determined(and, in some embodiments, stored with a player identifier or accountidentifier). Referring to FIG. 4A, if a random number of 168 isgenerated, then the partial outcome is “Bell-Bell” (see random numbercolumn 455 and corresponding entry in partial outcome column 460), and apartial outcome identifier of PO-000003 is determined (see correspondingentry in partial outcome ID column 465). Such an “Identifier” maycomprise a series of characters (e.g., numeric, alphanumeric) or a“code” that may be stored and later read and/or understood to mean aparticular partial outcome. In addition, using the same example of arandom number of 168 and a partial outcome of “Bell-Bell,” an associated“Completion paytable” PT-000005 may be determined (see correspondingentry in Completion Paytable column 470). The “Completion paytable,”described further below, may be a paytable that could be utilized when aplayer requests a “completion” of a particular partial outcome at agaming device within a legal jurisdiction. In some embodiments, separate“completion paytables” may be stored for each type of partial outcome aplayer may receive remotely, such that appropriate complete outcomes maybe determined. For example, a player receives a partial outcome of“Bell-Bell” online, and when visiting a casino to complete the partialoutcome, a completion paytable is accessed that yields a plurality ofresults that each includes “Bell-Bell” as the first two symbols. Anindication of this completion paytable may be stored.

In some embodiments, an associated “complete outcome” may be determinedbefore a player visits a casino (and just not shown to the player untilhe requests “completion” of a partial outcome). For example, a randomnumber is determined, and based on the random number, (i) a partialoutcome is determined and output, and (ii) a complete outcome isdetermined and stored in a database such that it later may be output tothe player (e.g., at the casino). In an embodiment, cryptography is usedto obfuscate and later reveal the outcome in a manner that makes ittrustworthy to the player. In other embodiments, a complete outcome maybe based at least partially on historic results from a physical gamingdevice, and may be “uploaded” and/or repurposed to a Website.

B. Outputting the Partial Outcome

In an embodiment, a partial outcome is output based to a player upon therequest of the player. For example, the player uses a mouse connected tohis home PC to click on a graphical “spin” button presented by an onlinegaming application, or the player presses “spin” button of wirelesshandheld device. In another example, a player pre-purchases 100 partialoutcomes, and once he begins viewing them, one partial outcome isautomatically output every five seconds until the partial outcomesconclude. For example, a DVD chapter depicts 100 partial outcomes beingoutput in sequence, or a player uses a hotel room TV remote control to“play,” “pause,” and “fast forward” partial outcome presentations. Othertriggers for receiving partial outcomes are possible. For example, atrigger for receiving partial outcomes may include the player booking ahotel room online, or may be based on the player's location (forexample, the player enters the casino, the player enters or exits hishotel room, and/or the player arrives in Las Vegas airport). Such atriggering process may include determining a player's location based ona signal transmitted by the player's cell phone or other device (forexample, a GPS device transmits the player's coordinates, an E-911 callprovides a location, and/or a location-based wireless service provides alocation).

Partial outcomes may be output by one or more output devices of a remotegaming device. For example, partial outcomes may be displayed on amonitor, and/or through the speakers of a personal computer (PC). In animplementation, a media file depicting slot spin accessed from a Webserver is output to the PC. In another implementation, a playerdownloads, or loads from a CD-ROM, an executable software applicationfor viewing partial results. When run, the software application providesa media file depicting a slot spin. The partial results may bedisplayed, for example, on a display screen of handheld gaming device,on a screen of a cellular phone which receives transmission of a partialoutcome, and/or on a television (possibly from partial outcomes storedon DVD).

In addition to partial outcomes being displayed, an indication ordisplay of the types of complete outcomes and the odds associated withsuch outcomes, and/or an indication of the types of prizes the playercould win, may also be displayed for the player. Thus, the prizes and/orpayouts along with the probability of obtaining such results for a givenpartial outcome or group of partial outcomes may be displayed, so thatthe player can determine what she could win. For example, if a partialoutcome of “Bell-Bell-?” is output, the display may include this partialoutcome plus a table that includes all possible winning completedoutcomes such as: “Bell-Bell-Bell”, “Bell-Bell-Plum”, “Bell-Bell-Bar”,“Bell-Bell-Orange”, and “Bell-Bell-7”, along with the odds for obtainingeach of these outcomes, and the prize (or payout) associated with eachone. For example, the odds of obtaining a “Bell-Bell-Bell” completeoutcome may be 1000 to 1, and the payout may be $950 for a one dollarwager, whereas the odds of obtaining a “Bell-Bell-7” completed outcomemay be 15 to 1 and have a corresponding payout of $13 for each dollarwagered. It is contemplated that, in some embodiments, such informationalong with other information desired by players could be displayed alongwith the partial outcomes.

Static or dynamic partial outcomes may be output. For example, a staticoutput may be out to a cellular phone which provides a display of stillgraphical sets of two slot symbols without animation. Alternately, adynamic output may be provided. For example, an audio/visual media filemay be transmitted to a remote gaming device that displays an animatedpartial outcome event.

Different types of partial outcomes may be provided. For example, twoout of three slot symbols, such as “Bar-Bar-?” or “Bar-?-Bar” or“?-Bar-Bar” could be provided, wherein the question mark “?” symbol is aplaceholder for a missing slot symbol needed to complete the outcome. Inanother embodiment, three out of five slot symbols are provided, such as“Bell-7-Plum-?-?” or “Bell-Mystery-Bell-Mystery-Bell”. Blank spaces,“mystery” symbols, question marks, and the like could all be used asplaceholders to indicating any missing, yet to be determined symbols.Partial outcomes of other types of games could also be used. Forexample, a Video Poker partial outcome may include three out of fivecards, such as: “A hearts-Q hearts-K spades-?-?”. Similarly, a Blackjackpartial outcome may include dealing a “first player card” and a “dealerup card” of the video Blackjack game. For example, in a table or videoBlackjack game, a player gets “his” total ahead of visiting the physicalgaming table at the casino, but does not get to see the dealers totaluntil arriving at the casino. For Video Roulette, a first “digit” of thespace where a virtual ball will land may be output, for example, a “0”for an outcome of “07” or “00”, or a “1” for an outcome of “13” or “19”(that is, a first outcome of a two-ball roulette table). Accordingly,“unknown” or as yet determined indicia may be expressed in a partialoutcome output as, for example, blank spaces, “Un-spun” reels and/or“perpetually spinning until resolved” reels, question marks. “Mystery”symbols, Blurred symbols, Encrypted symbols (nonsensical code), and thelike.

C. Store Data to Associate a Partial Outcome with a Player or AccountIdentifier

FIG. 5 illustrates a “Partial Results Achieved Database” 500 that may bemaintained by a casino server and/or a remote gaming device. Forexample, the partial outcome data may be electronically stored involatile or non-volatile memory. The database 500 is associated with aparticular player and includes identification data such as a playeridentifier 505 of “P-092983”, a partial results session identifier 510of “PRS-009291”, and an expiration date 515 of Jan. 1, 2007. Alsoincluded are a “partial results number” column 520, a “partial result”column 525, a “partial result” ID 530, a “completion table” column 535,and a “completed” column 540. In this embodiment, partial results whichare stored in column 525 are stored in association with a playeridentifier, but in some embodiments the partial results could be storedin association with other identifiers such as an account identifier, apartial results session identifier, and the like.

The player ID 505 is a code that identifies a specific player, and thatis used to correlate one or more partial results achieved to thatplayer. Alternately, or in addition, to the player ID, an “account ID”or other types of identifiers may be used. In the example database 505of FIG. 5, one player ID is associated with a plurality of results. Butin some embodiments, a “master partial results achieved” database mightstore results for all players of a particular type of wagering game. Therows of such a master partial results achieved database may indicatedifferent “player IDs” that are associated with different partialresults. In addition, a Partial Results Session ID may be used in placeof, or in addition to, the player ID, and may be useful when playerspartake in a plurality of online sessions.

In some embodiments, a player may only have a limited timeframe tocomplete partial outcomes. For example, the player receives a set ofpartial outcomes online during a peak gaming weekend, and may berequired to wait until the weekdays in order to complete the partialoutcomes. In another example, a player receives one or more partialoutcomes on day 1 and may not redeem the partial outcomes until day 2(i.e., to encourage a repeat visit to a casino).

In some embodiments, the Partial Result Number 520 may indicate asequence in which player achieved partial results, and may be used bythe player to indicate specific partial results he would like tocomplete. For example, the player requests to redeem the partial result“#7” (number seven, which is associated with a partial result of“Jackpot-Jackpot”).

The Partial Result 525 is an indication of the indicia presented to theplayer remotely. The Partial Result ID 530 may be an encoded version ofthat partial result. The Completion Paytable 535 number identifies atable that is associated with each partial outcome that may be used todetermine a complete outcome. The Completion Paytable Number 535 wouldnot be necessary for embodiments wherein complete outcomes arepredetermined in advance of a player visit to the casino. Lastly, the“Completed?” column 540 indicates whether or not a partial outcome hasbeen completed by the player. Data in column 540 may later be populated(e.g., with one “complete outcome” for each “partial result number”)once complete results are determined, and this column is not necessaryin embodiments wherein complete outcomes are predetermined in advance ofthe player visiting the casino.

Other types of storage may be used to preserve such data (non-databaseor non-electronic). For example, any or all of the data shown in FIG. 5may be encoded into a barcode of a paper substrate such as a “cashlessgaming ticket” printed from a kiosk or by a home computer printer.Alternately or in addition, a magnetic stripe of a player tracking cardcould be swiped through a reader/writer of a remote gaming device andmay store such data. Other personal electronic devices, such as a cellphone, PDA, iPod, and the like could be used, not only to obtain partialoutcomes, but also to store them.

In some embodiments, players may have control over what partial outcomedata is stored. For example, players may chose to “save” certain partialoutcomes and “discard” others. Examples of how a player may indicatethat one or more partial outcomes may be saved or stored include, butare not limited to, a player using a personal computer to view partialoutcomes and, as each partial outcome is output, the player selects a“save” option to save the partial outcome, causing it to be stored in adatabase as above (or stored in memory of the computer such that abarcode may be printed based on the data stored in memory). In anotherexample, the player utilizes a wireless handheld device at a casinoresort pool to view partial outcomes. After he has completed viewing abatch of 100 partial outcomes, the player may sort through them andselect which outcomes he'd like to save. The saved outcomes are thentransmitted wirelessly to a server within the casino such that they maybe accessed at a later time when a player goes to the slot floor, sitsdown at a gaming device, and wagers.

D. Identifying Partial Outcomes

In some embodiments, a player utilizes a gaming device within a casinoto request the determination of a complete outcome in association with apartial game outcome that was obtained previously by the player. In anembodiment, the player utilizes a form of identification, such as aplayer tracking card, so that a query can be made to access partial gameresults from the partial game results achieved database. Other forms ofidentification may be used, for example, the player may insert acashless gaming ticket (having a barcode that encodes the partialoutcomes available for completion, or that is simply a “pointer” to adatabase record on the server), or the player enters a code (e.g., afterfinishing an online game and generating partial outcomes, the player isgiven the following directions: “Enter code 192830 into the keypad ofany slot machine to complete your results at the casino”.). Once anidentifier is provided and the partial game outcomes are found in thedatabase, one or more partial outcomes (or sets of partial outcomes) maybe displayed to the player. The player may next be prompted to selectone or more of the partial game outcomes to wager on, and thus to obtaincomplete game outcomes.

In another embodiment, a player utilizes a mobile or wireless device torequest a complete outcome in association with a partial outcome. Forexample, the player may utilize a cell phone to request a completeoutcome, if the player is physically located in a legalized gamblingjurisdiction. In an embodiment, the player dials a predetermined numberfrom a legalized gambling jurisdiction, and then selects “partialoutcome redemption” from a menu that contains various options. Forexample, the player may use the existing operating system on his cellphone to review the partial outcomes and select one or more for completeoutcomes, scroll through text messages, render a Java applet, and/orlisten to a voicemail message regarding complete outcomes. The player isthen able to obtain at least one completed outcome of the partialresults that have already been achieved. It is contemplated that, insome embodiments, the same mobile or wireless device that was used toobtain the partial outcomes could be used to also obtain the completedoutcomes.

In an embodiment, a player selects the partial results to complete froma set. For example, a touch-sensitive display screen depicts a set ofpartial results and the player “presses” the partial results he'd liketo redeem. Next, the reels reconfigure to the appropriate first twosymbols based on the player selection. In another implementation, thepartial results are determined in a random fashion.

Partial game outcomes may be completed and displayed “in sequence”(i.e., in the same sequence or order as the partial outcomes weredetermined). For example, if the set is determined to be partial resultssession PRS-009291 (see FIG. 5, reference no. 510), a slot machinedisplay screen first depicts the appropriate first two non-winningsymbols of “partial result number 1” 525, such that when the player thenpresses a spin button (after placing a wager), the third reel isdetermined (for example, an animation sequence shows blurring reels topsimulate a spinning action, and then the reels resolve to display anon-winning result). The reels are then reset to the first two symbolsof “partial result number 2,” and the process continues until all of thepartial results have been completed.

In some embodiments, the player indicates the specific partial outcometo be redeemed without the set first being determined. For example, theplayer inserts a cashless gaming ticket “good for” one particularpartial outcome, or the player enters a code entitling him to complete aparticular partial outcome. In another embodiment, a cashless gamingticket may provide the player with a plurality of partial outcomes thatthe player selected, or that includes all of his partial game outcomes,for use with a gaming device.

In some embodiments, a “fee” or a wager may be required to complete oneor more partial outcomes. For example, a player may wager anything he'dlike (e.g., if he wages zero coins, he wins zero coins; if he wagers onecoin, he wins whatever a paytable indicates for a one-coin bet; if hewagers two coins, he wins whatever a paytable indicates for a two-coinbet; and the like). For example, the player may be required to provide aflat $1 “completion fee” per partial outcome. In another example, theplayer pre-pays a flat amount of $20 to receive 100 partial outcomesviewable online, which he may then redeem without further payment (“forfree”) at a casino. In yet another example, the player can only redeempartial outcomes after playing a certain amount of standard playwagering rounds (e.g., $10 must be wagered in standard play).

In some embodiments, restrictions may apply regarding when and/or whereand/or how a partial outcome may be redeemed by a player. In particular,an expiration condition may apply. For example, a particular partialoutcome may expires in one hour from when it is transmitted to theplayer. Such a time restriction encourages the player to stay near thecasino, thereby generating additional business on casino property. Inanother example, a particular partial outcome may only be good atcertain times of the day, such as during off-peak hours at the casino.Another restriction may involve the partial outcome only being good oncertain game devices. For example, game devices that have been selectedbased on their low or high traffic locations in the casino, their holdpercentages, and/or whether or not the game device is linked toprogressive jackpots. In some embodiments, a player can only redeem apartial outcome on a game device if the player has established a certainpredetermined credit balance on the game device.

In some embodiments, a player may postpone the expiration of a partialoutcome by performing an activity. For example, a one hour expirationtimer for validity of a partial outcome may be paused and/or postponedwhile a player is operating a gaming device on the casino floor (acasino does not want to force players away from a game that they likeand are actively playing). In other embodiments, a player may postponethe expiration of a partial outcome for eight hours, for example, bymaking a predetermined minimum dollar amount purchase at a retail storeassociated with the casino. In some implementations, a player maypostpone the expiration of a partial outcome indefinitely by making aforward commitment (for example, a forward commitment to gamble for atleast one hour). In other implementations, the player may be permittedto spend camp points to postpone the expiration of a partial outcome.Thus, in some embodiments, a player may perform value-added casinoactivities (such as gaming, purchasing products from the casino giftshops, purchasing hotel services, and the like) in order to postpone theexpiration of a partial outcome.

In the case of dual mode gaming devices that offer both Standard Playand Partial Outcome Redemption modes of operation, when a playerrequests to determine a complete outcome in association with a partialoutcome, a player may first be prompted to select the “Partial Outcome”completion mode. For example, a gaming device in a casino may beconfigured to “default” to standard play mode when idle, but displays amenu that includes an option to “Complete My ‘At Home’ Spins,” which theplayer may select to cause the gaming device to switch to a “completionmode” that enables completion of the partial outcomes that the playerobtained previously.

E. Determining and Displaying Complete Outcomes

In some embodiments, a complete outcome in association with a partialoutcome is based on the received request to determine the completeoutcome. For example, a player may provide (i) a “partial resultssession ID” indicating a group of partial results he'd like to redeem,and/or (ii) a specific individual partial result ID. Data may then beaccessed (from example, from a database stored by a server) based on anidentified partial result the player would like to complete.

FIG. 6A illustrates a Completion Paytable 600 for a particular “BigJackpot Slot Machine” (GD-000001) 602. The “Big Jackpot Slot Machine”GD-000001 is operable to facilitate both standard play and partialoutcome completion, and FIG. 6A illustrates a “Jackpot-JackpotCompletion Paytable: PT-000003” 604, which is configured as a “NeutralEV” embodiment. The paytable 600 includes data entries for an Outcome IDcolumn 606, a Complete Outcome column 608, a Probability column 610, aPayout column 612, and an EV column 614. In this embodiment, the totalEV 616 is 0.9625.

For example, a player using the gaming device GD-0000001 may indicatethat he'd like to redeem partial result #7 of partial results sessionPRS-009291 (“Jackpot-Jackpot”≦see reference numbers 510 and 520 of FIG.5). Based on this information, the “partial results achieved database”500 may be accessed, and it may be determined that a player is due onegame play against completion paytable PT-000003 (shown in FIG. 6A). Insome embodiments, a gaming device and/or server may store a plurality ofsuch completion paytables. For example, one completion paytable for eachtype of partial outcome may be stored (e.g., one for “Jackpot-Jackpot,”one for “Bar-Bar,” one for “Bell-Bell,” and the like; one for each typeof non-winning combination (though for purposes of simplicity, all“non-winning” results and partial results have been lumped together).

In some embodiments, a random number may be generated (based on theprobabilities indicated, as is known in the art), and an outcome of thecompletion paytable PT-000003 may be determined. With regard to thepaytable 600 of FIG. 6A, only outcomes that begin with “Jackpot-Jackpot”(the partial outcome) are included in this specific completion paytable.In addition, a comparison to the “standard play paytable” of GD-000001(See reference number 410 of FIG. 4A 5) reveals that a complete outcomeof “Jackpot-Jackpot-Jackpot” pays 1000 coins if achieved in eitherstandard play or by partial outcome and then completion (which makes theonline program feel valuable—players can win “actual” or “real” payoutsfrom gaming devices on the floor). Furthermore, in this example, the“Jackpot-Jackpot-Jackpot” outcome is more likely to be achieved when“completing” a partial outcome of “Jackpot-Jackpot” against thecompletion paytable (which has a probability of 0.0009625) than whensimply playing the device through standard play (which has a probabilityof 0.00005). Having an increased probability of achieving“Jackpot-Jackpot-Jackpot” when presenting a partial outcome of“Jackpot-Jackpot” is likely to resonate well with players (e.g., “itonly makes sense that you're more likely to get it”).

It should be noted that the completion paytable 600 and the standardplay paytable 410 each provides the same overall expected value per gameplay (0.9625). In other words, whether a player is using the slotmachine to complete “Jackpot-Jackpot” or generate a new game play, hewill statistically receive 96.25% of his wagers paid back as winningsover time. Thus, the gaming device is “EV-neutral” between standard playand partial outcome redemption. This may be beneficial for variousreasons and/or considerations, including legality (e.g., the onlineprogram can't really be considered “gambling” if it has no ultimateaffect on the monetary results players achieve). As shown in thecompletion paytable 600, the probability of achieving a non-winningresult (0.9990375) is divided evenly among six types of non-winningoutcomes. But such an even distribution need not necessarily be the case(e.g., if desired, Jackpot-Jackpot-7 may be programmed to be more likelythan Jackpot-Jackpot-Bell).

FIG. 63 illustrates another embodiment of a Completion Paytable 620 fora “Big Jackpot Slot Machine” (GD-000001) 622. In this example, the “BigJackpot Slot Machine” GD-000001 is associated with a “Jackpot-JackpotCompletion Paytable: PT-000004” 624. The paytable 620 includes dataentries for an Outcome ID column 626, a Complete Outcome column 628, aProbability column 630, a Payout column 632, and an EV column 634. As inthe example of FIG. 6A, the total EV 636 for the Completion Paytable 620is 0.9625.

For example, if a player approaches the gaming device GD-000001 operableto facilitate both standard play and partial outcome completion (e.g.,the “Big Jackpot” slot machine GD-000001), and indicates he'd like toredeem the partial outcome “Bar-Bar,” then the completion paytable 620of FIG. 6B may be used. Referring to FIG. 6B, a player may win differentamounts of coins for outcomes of “Bar-Bar-Bar” (500 coins),“Bar-Bar-Cherry” (250 coins), and “Bar-Bar-7” (150 coins), irrespectiveof whether they present partial outcomes or not, although theprobabilities of achieving such outcomes (and other non-winningoutcomes) may be adjusted for players who are completing partialoutcomes (as compared to a standard paytable).

FIG. 6C illustrates yet another embodiment of a Completion Paytable 640for a “Big Jackpot Slot Machine” (GD-000001) 642. In this example, the“Big Jackpot Slot Machine” GD-000001 is associated with a“Jackpot-Jackpot Completion Paytable: PT-000005” 644. The paytable 640includes data entries for an Outcome ID column 646, a Complete Outcomecolumn 648, a Probability column 650, a Payout column 652, and an EVcolumn 654. FIG. 60 may be used when a player provides a partial outcomeof “Bell-Bell”. As in the examples of FIGS. 6A and 6B, the total EV 656for the Completion Paytable 640 is 0.9625.

Similarly, FIG. 6D illustrates an embodiment of a Completion Paytable660 for a “Big Jackpot Slot Machine” (GD-000001) 662 for use when aplayer provides a partial outcome of “Cherry-Cherry”. In this example,the “Big Jackpot Slot Machine” GD-000001 is associated with a“Jackpot-Jackpot Completion Paytable: PT-00000” 664. The paytable 660includes data entries for an Outcome ID column 666, a Complete Outcomecolumn 668, a Probability column 670, a Payout column 672, and an EVcolumn 674. As in the examples of FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C, the total EV 656for the Completion Paytable 660 is 0.9625.

Each of the example completion paytables shown in FIGS. 6A to 6Dprovides the same overall expected value (EV) per game play (0.9625).But of course, in alternate embodiments, a gaming device may provide adifferent overall EV depending on the game being played, for example. Insome embodiments, a game device may be provided that facilitates bothstandard play and completion of partial outcomes, and which alsoprovides a different overall EV to the different types of players. Forexample, a casino may promote online play by providing that: “onlineplayers get 10% extra payouts!” Such a promotional program may be fundedby a casino's customer acquisition budget to bring new players to thecasino floor.

In some embodiments, a particular type of gaming device facilitates onlypartial outcome redemption, and may be a “Positive EV” embodiment. Forexample, a gaming device within a casino may function only to completepartial outcomes that have been provided remotely. The process ofdetermining a complete outcome in association with such presentedpartial outcomes may function in a manner similar to that of theembodiments described above. Thus, based on a partial outcome a playerprovides and desires to complete, a “completion paytable” may bedetermined (offering a subset of all results customarily available onthe machine, the subset including all completed results featuringappropriate indicia in the appropriate positions corresponding to thepartial outcome). In some embodiments, one or more of such completionpaytables may offer the player a “positive EV” based on the wagersand/or fees that the player has posted (e.g., players wagering $1 onaverage will win back $1.25 in the long run).

FIG. 7 illustrates a “positive EV” completion paytable 700 for a gamingdevice GD-000002 (“Win From Home Slot Machine”) 705, which is a“Jackpot-Jackpot Completion Paytable: PT2-000003” 710. The paytable 700includes data entries for an Outcome ID column 715, a Complete Outcomecolumn 720, a Probability column 725, a Payout column 730, and an EVcolumn 735. FIG. 7 may be used when a player provides a partial outcomeof “Jackpot-Jackpot”, and illustrates that, in the long run, the playerwill receive $1.25 for every $1.00 wagered. As shown, the total EV 740for the Completion Paytable 8100 is 1.25.

In some embodiments, only certain completion paytables of such a“completion-only” gaming device may offer a positive EV. For example,only the “winning completion” paytables (e.g., “Bar-Bar”, “Bell-Bell”,and the like) may offer a positive EV, while the non-winning tables donot. Thus, in some embodiments, partial outcomes that may potentially becompleted as winning outcomes (e.g., “Bar-Bar”, “Bell-Bell”, and thelike) may be more valuable for a player to achieve remotely thannon-winning partial outcomes (e.g., “Bell-7”, “Jackpot-Bar”, etc.).Thus, in one embodiment, a program offering random remote determinationof such partial results may offer the player a chance to winconsiderable value (which may be conceptualized as a coupon program). Insome embodiments, a casino might advertise and/or market the benefits ofsuch a program, in hopes of getting players to partake in the programand ultimately visit the casino. For example, as described, such aprogram may be thought of as a way to acquire new customers. A portionof a casino's budget may be dedicated to covering wins paid out toplayers through such a program. For example, Casino XYZ advertises:“Visit CasinoXYZ.com and spin the first two reels of our ‘Win From Home’slots game online! When your first two reels feature matching symbols,you'll get 125% payback for coming to the casino to complete the thirdreel!”

In some embodiments, a gaming device may be used only to redeem and/orcomplete partial outcomes, but such a gaming device does so in a mannerthat offers a neutral or a negative EV (or payback) with respect to anamount that a player wagers. For example, players spend $1 to completeeach partial outcome achieved online and win back $1 on average (neutralEV), or players may wager anywhere from 25¢ to $1.25 per “completionspin,” and on average win back 95% of their wager amount (a negativeEV).

In some embodiments, such a completion database may be updated toindicate that (i) specific partial outcomes have been completed(determined), and/or (ii) what the partial outcomes have been “completedto” (e.g., “Bar-Bar” became “Bar-Bar-7”). For example, referring to FIG.5, for “Partial Result #10”, a “Completed?” field 540 may be updated toindicate “Bar-Bar-7”.

In some embodiments, it may be useful to prevent players from attemptingto “complete” the same partial outcome twice. In such embodiments, afeature may be to include determining whether a particular partialoutcome has already been completed, and if so, output a “sorry” messageto the player.

In some embodiments, as described above, complete outcomes may bedetermined before a player visits a casino (and not shown to playersuntil visit a gaming device located in the casino). Thus, in someembodiments, determining a complete outcome may includes accessing adatabase to determine a pre-stored complete outcome in association witha partial outcome that a player desires to redeem. In addition, such aprocess may include “decrypting” a predetermined complete outcome.

In some embodiments, complete outcomes may be determined when a playervisits the casino. For example, a “Partial Outcome Redemption” gamingdevice may be configured to accept partial outcome identifiers fromplayers, validate one or more “head start” sessions based at least onthe partial outcome identifiers, and then internally generate completeoutcomes for the player. In an implementation, such a gaming device maycontinually generate complete outcomes internally until a completeoutcome occurs that matches the partial outcome, and then that completegame outcome is output. For example, if the player previously obtained apartial game outcome of “Cherry-Cherry” which requires one more symbol(reel icon) to complete the wagering game, then the gaming devicecontinually generates complete game outcomes such as“Orange-Cherry-Bell” and “Cherry-Banana-Bar” until a complete gameoutcome beginning with the symbols “Cherry-Cherry” is achieved (whereinthe first two reels being “Cherry-Cherry” corresponds to a ‘match’ forthe partial game outcome). When a complete game outcome beginning with“Cherry-Cherry” is achieved, the gaming device then outputs thatcomplete game output for viewing by the player, and if it is a winningcombination provides a benefit (such as a payout) to the player. Suchoperation may also be performed by a dual mode gaming device. In animplementation, gaming devices that internally generate complete gameoutcomes and match them to partial game outcomes may use a random numbergenerator that utilizes, for example, a seed value that is not based onthe partial game outcome, and may also use a predetermined paytable todetermine payouts for winning combinations.

F. Output the Complete Outcome

Outputting an indication of a complete outcome is similar to outputtingthe partial outcome, except that one or more output components of agaming device within a casino may be utilized (as opposed to outputdevices of a remote gaming device). In addition, in some embodiments, adetermined partial outcome may be output by such a gaming device beforean associated completed outcome is output. For example, if it isdetermined that a player wants to complete a partial outcome of“Bar-Bar,” a set of video reels first depict “Bar-Bar-?” before thethird reel is animated to spin and rest on “7,” so that a determinedcomplete outcome of “Bar-Bar-7” is output.

In some embodiments, a complete game outcome may be output to anddisplayed by a mobile device, for example, that is on the grounds of acasino hotel, or otherwise in a legalized gambling jurisdiction. In someimplementations, the mobile device may be used to both obtain partialgame results in a first location, and then obtain complete game resultsin another location.

III. Alternate and Additional Embodiments

Further embodiments offering a “Neutral EV” between standard play andpartial outcome completion may be utilized. As explained above, theexpected value, “EV” is a function of both probability and payout (theEV of a particular result is the probability of achieving the resultmultiplied by its payout amount). Therefore, the above-described“Neutral EV” embodiments may focus on manners of adjusting probabilityalone when players present partial outcomes, and/or keeping payoutvalues constant, so that players may feel an online program “offers morevalue” if players have a chance to win the same payout amounts offeredby casino gaming devices in standard play. However, this needn'tnecessarily be the case. If it is desired to provide players with aneutral EV between standard play and partial outcome completion, thenthe probability and/or payout amounts may be adjusted.

For example, consider FIG. 4A illustrating the “Big Jackpot SlotMachine” standard play paytable 410 and partial outcome paytable 450. Inthis example embodiment, a player achieving a partial outcome of“Jackpot-Jackpot” when playing online is shown the “Jackpot-JackpotCompletion Paytable” 600 of FIG. 6A when visiting the casino to completethe partial outcome. Referring to FIG. 6A, the “Big Jackpot SlotMachine” (GD-000001) 602 is associated with a “Jackpot-JackpotCompletion Paytable: PT-000003” 604. Referring to the standard paytable425 of FIG. 4A and the partial outcome paytable 600 of FIG. 6A, whencompared to a standard player, the player completing a partial outcomeof “Jackpot-Jackpot” has (i) a greater probability of achieving“Jackpot-Jackpot-Jackpot,” and also (ii) a greater probability ofachieving a non-winning result. But the payout for“Jackpot-Jackpot-Jackpot” remains constant at 1000 coins in each case.The fact that the player has a much greater overall probability ofachieving a losing result is what allows for the provision of the samepayout amount and greater probability for “Jackpot-Jackpot-Jackpot.”

However, other methods of providing the same overall EV (0.9625) arecontemplated. For example, when compared to a standard player (the“standard play paytable” 410 of FIG. 4A), a completion paytable may beconstructed such that a player redeeming a partial outcome of“Jackpot-Jackpot” may be awarded with a lower payout (e.g., 500 coinsinstead of 1000 coins) at a greater probability (e.g., 0.001925 insteadof 0.0009625), such that the same EV is provided (e.g., 0.9625). Inanother embodiment, a player redeeming a partial outcome of“Jackpot-Jackpot” may be awarded with a greater payout (e.g., 1500 coinsinstead of 1000 coins) at a lower probability (e.g., 0.000641667 insteadof 0.0009625), such that the same EV is provided (e.g., 0.9625). Inaddition, if a larger pool of potential winning outcomes is available(e.g., “Bar-Bar” is presented instead of “Jackpot-Jackpot”),probabilities and/or payouts associated with more than one completeoutcome may be adjusted accordingly within a completion paytable.

In some embodiments, the positioning of gaming devices within a casino,and/or directing players to specific gaming devices to complete partialoutcomes, may be important and/or desirable. For example, in someembodiments, it may be desirable to “steer” players towards one or moreparticular areas and/or devices to complete partial outcomes. In someembodiments, partial outcomes may only be redeemable at certain gamingdevices on the floor (e.g., restricted to devices of a particular type,within a particular area, etc.). In some embodiments, whether or not agaming device is eligible for redemption of partial outcomes may bedetermined dynamically (e.g., based on a periodic and/or ongoingevaluation of stored rules). Eligible gaming devices may be based onvarious considerations, including, but not limited to, the time of dayand/or the day of the week, the utilization and/or performance metricsassociated with one or more devices (e.g., only devices that haven'tgenerated sufficient coin-in or other play activity are eligible forpartial outcome redemption). In some embodiments, a gaming device thatfacilitates both standard play and partial outcome completion may beoperable to dynamically “turn off” its ability to facilitate partialoutcome completion. In such cases, a “Complete your partial outcome”option may no longer be selectable, and/or images or icons or thefunctionality of the gaming device to resolve or determine partialoutcomes may be “ghosted out” or “grayed out” in a display or graphicaluser interface (GUI) for use by the player.

In some embodiments, the timing and/or availability for determiningpartial outcomes may be linked to a vacation that a player has booked.For example, a player may be eligible for getting ⅓ of the outcome 2weeks from leaving for the vacation, and the next ⅓ one week before thetrip, and then complete the partial outcome during the trip. In someembodiments, a player may be restricted from participating online unlessthat player has booked a room in the casino hotel, and/or signed up fora player tracking card.

It is also contemplated that, in some embodiments, gaming devices withina casino may be used for the entire process. For example, a singlegaming device within a casino determines partial results, and thencomplete the results based on the partial results. For example, thereels of a slot machine may occasionally spin and not completely resolve(e.g., first two reels spin and third does not). Players might be ableto “store” these spins and complete them later (e.g., in a bonus round).In another embodiment, one or more gaming devices within a casinodetermine partial results, and one or more other gaming devices inanother physical location within the casino determine the completeresults based on the partial results. For example, players mightoccasionally get “incomplete” results, and to obtain complete resultsthe player must visit one or more separate machines. For example, alarge “Giant Third Reel” machine may provide complete outcomes based onpartial outcomes in an exciting manner (e.g., an oversized wheel spinsto determine a “third symbol” associated with a partial outcome in amanner similar to the spinning reel made famous by the television show“The Price Is Right™”, except that the big wheel in such a case includessymbols on its face that complete one or more partial outcomes that aplayer previously achieved).

Rules of Interpretation

Numerous embodiments are described in this disclosure, and are presentedfor illustrative purposes only. The described embodiments are not, andare not intended to be, limiting in any sense. The presently disclosedmethod(s) are widely applicable to numerous embodiments, as is readilyapparent from the disclosure. One of ordinary skill in the art willrecognize that the disclosed process(es) may be practiced with variousmodifications and alterations, such as structural, logical, software,and electrical modifications. Although particular features may bedescribed with reference to one or more particular embodiments and/ordrawings, it should be understood that such features are not limited tousage in the one or more particular embodiments or drawings withreference to which they are described, unless expressly specifiedotherwise.

The present disclosure is neither a literal description of allembodiments nor a listing of features of the invention that must bepresent in all embodiments.

Neither the Title (set forth at the beginning of the first page of thisdisclosure) nor the Abstract (set forth at the end of this disclosure)is to be taken as limiting in any way as the scope of the disclosedinvention(s).

The term “product” means any machine, manufacture and/or composition ofmatter as contemplated by 35 U.S.C. §101, unless expressly specifiedotherwise.

The terms “an embodiment”, “embodiment”, “embodiments”, “theembodiment”, “the embodiments”, “one or more embodiments”, “someembodiments”, “one embodiment” and the like mean “one or more (but notall) disclosed embodiments”, unless expressly specified otherwise.

The terms “the invention” and “the present invention” and the like mean“one or more embodiments of the present invention.”

A reference to “another embodiment” in describing an embodiment does notimply that the referenced embodiment is mutually exclusive with anotherembodiment (e.g., an embodiment described before the referencedembodiment), unless expressly specified otherwise.

The terms “including”, “comprising” and variations thereof mean“including but not limited to”, unless expressly specified otherwise.

The terms “a”, “an” and “the” mean “one or more”, unless expresslyspecified otherwise.

The term “plurality” means “two or more”, unless expressly specifiedotherwise.

The term “herein” means “in the present disclosure, including anythingwhich may be incorporated by reference”, unless expressly specifiedotherwise.

The phrase “at least one of”, when such phrase modifies a plurality ofthings (such as an enumerated list of things) means any combination ofone or more of those things, unless expressly specified otherwise. Forexample, the phrase at least one of a widget, a car and a wheel meanseither (i) a widget, (ii) a car, (iii) a wheel, (iv) a widget and a car,(v) a widget and a wheel, (vi) a car and a wheel, or (vii) a widget, acar and a wheel.

The phrase “based on” does not mean “based only on”, unless expresslyspecified otherwise. In other words, the phrase “based on” describesboth “based only on” and “based at least on”.

Where a limitation of a first claim would cover one of a feature as wellas more than one of a feature (e.g., a limitation such as “at least onewidget” covers one widget as well as more than one widget), and where ina second claim that depends on the first claim, the second claim uses adefinite article “the” to refer to the limitation (e.g., “the widget”),this does not imply that the first claim covers only one of the feature,and this does not imply that the second claim covers only one of thefeature (e.g., “the widget” can cover both one widget and more than onewidget).

Each process (whether called a method, algorithm or otherwise)inherently includes one or more steps, and therefore all references to a“step” or “steps” of a process have an inherent antecedent basis in themere recitation of the term ‘process’ or a like term. Accordingly, anyreference in a claim to a ‘step’ or ‘steps’ of a process has sufficientantecedent basis.

When an ordinal number (such as “first”, “second”, “third” and so on) isused as an adjective before a term, that ordinal number is used (unlessexpressly specified otherwise) merely to indicate a particular feature,such as to distinguish that particular feature from another feature thatis described by the same term or by a similar term. For example, a“first widget” may be so named merely to distinguish it from, e.g., a“second widget”. Thus, the mere usage of the ordinal numbers “first” and“second” before the term “widget” does not indicate any otherrelationship between the two widgets, and likewise does not indicate anyother characteristics of either or both widgets. For example, the mereusage of the ordinal numbers “first” and “second” before the term“widget” (1) does not indicate that either widget comes before or afterany other in order or location; (2) does not indicate that either widgetoccurs or acts before or after any other in time; and (3) does notindicate that either widget ranks above or below any other, as inimportance or quality. In addition, the mere usage of ordinal numbersdoes not define a numerical limit to the features identified with theordinal numbers. For example, the mere usage of the ordinal numbers“first” and “second” before the term “widget” does not indicate thatthere must be no more than two widgets.

When a single device or article is described herein, more than onedevice or article (whether or not they cooperate) may alternatively beused in place of the single device or article that is described.Accordingly, the functionality that is described as being possessed by adevice may alternatively be possessed by more than one device or article(whether or not they cooperate).

Similarly, where more than one device or article is described herein(whether or not they cooperate), a single device or article mayalternatively be used in place of the more than one device or articlethat is described. For example, a plurality of computer-based devicesmay be substituted with a single computer-based device. Accordingly, thevarious functionality that is described as being possessed by more thanone device or article may alternatively be possessed by a single deviceor article.

The functionality and/or the features of a single device that isdescribed may be alternatively embodied by one or more other devicesthat are described but are not explicitly described as having suchfunctionality and/or features. Thus, other embodiments need not includethe described device itself, but rather can include the one or moreother devices which would, in those other embodiments, have suchfunctionality/features.

Devices that are in communication with each other need not be incontinuous communication with each other, unless expressly specifiedotherwise. On the contrary, such devices need only transmit to eachother as necessary or desirable, and may actually refrain fromexchanging data most of the time. For example, a machine incommunication with another machine via the Internet may not transmitdata to the other machine for weeks at a time. In addition, devices thatare in communication with each other may communicate directly orindirectly through one or more intermediaries.

A description of an embodiment with several components or features doesnot imply that all or even any of such components and/or features arerequired. On the contrary, a variety of optional components aredescribed to illustrate the wide variety of possible embodiments of thepresent invention(s). Unless otherwise specified explicitly, nocomponent and/or feature is essential or required.

Further, although process steps, algorithms or the like may be describedin a sequential order, such processes may be configured to work indifferent orders. In other words, any sequence or order of steps thatmay be explicitly described does not necessarily indicate a requirementthat the steps be performed in that order. The steps of processesdescribed herein may be performed in any order practical. Further, somesteps may be performed simultaneously despite being described or impliedas occurring non-simultaneously (e.g., because one step is describedafter the other step). Moreover, the illustration of a process by itsdepiction in a drawing does not imply that the illustrated process isexclusive of other variations and modifications thereto, does not implythat the illustrated process or any of its steps are necessary to theinvention, and does not imply that the illustrated process is preferred.

Although a process may be described as including a plurality of steps,that does not indicate that all or even any of the steps are essentialor required. Various other embodiments within the scope of the describedinvention(s) include other processes that omit some or all of thedescribed steps. Unless otherwise specified explicitly, no step isessential or required.

Although a product may be described as including a plurality ofcomponents, aspects, qualities, characteristics and/or features, thatdoes not indicate that all of the plurality are essential or required.Various other embodiments within the scope of the described invention(s)include other products that omit some or all of the described plurality.

An enumerated list of items (which may or may not be numbered) does notimply that any or all of the items are mutually exclusive, unlessexpressly specified otherwise. Likewise, an enumerated list of items(which may or may not be numbered) does not imply that any or all of theitems are comprehensive of any category, unless expressly specifiedotherwise. For example, the enumerated list “a computer, a laptop, aPDA” does not imply that any or all of the three items of that list aremutually exclusive and does not imply that any or all of the three itemsof that list are comprehensive of any category.

Headings of sections provided in this disclosure are for convenienceonly, and are not to be taken as limiting the disclosure in any way.

A player “wagers” at least a single “unit of wager” to pay for a gamestart. In many gaming devices, a unit of wager may be referred to as acredit. Many gaming devices allow multiple credits to be wageredconcurrently in exchange for an improved paytable or more paylines. Aunit of wager may be equivalent to a full dollar amount ($1, $5), afractional dollar amount, a coin (e.g., $0.05 (nickel) or $0.25(quarter)), or specified amount of another currency (e.g., a specifiednumber of comp points). Some paytables may be expressed as a number ofcoins won relative to a number of coins wagered. In such instances, theterm coin is the same as a unit of wager. Because gaming devices areembodied in different denominations, it is relevant to note that a coin,credit, or unit of wager on a first device may not be identically valuedas a coin, credit, or unit of wager on a second device. For example, acredit on a quarter slot machine (on which the credit is equivalent to$0.25) is not the same as a credit on a five dollar slot machine (onwhich the credit is equivalent to $5.00). Accordingly, it should beunderstood that in embodiments in which a player may cash out creditsfrom a first gaming device that operates based on a first denomination(e.g., a quarter-play slot machine) and establish, using only the cashedout credits, a credit balance on a second gaming device that operatesbased on a second denomination (e.g., a nickel-play slot machine), theplayer may receive a different number of credits on the second gamingdevice than the number of credits cashed out at the first gaming device.An interesting discussion of this concept can be found in U.S. Pat. No.5,277,424, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.“Determining” something can be performed in a variety of manners andtherefore the term “determining” (and like terms) includes calculating,computing, deriving, looking up (e.g., in a table, database or datastructure), ascertaining, recognizing, and the like.

A “display” as that term is used herein is an area that conveysinformation to a viewer. The information may be dynamic, in which case,an LCD, LED, CRT, LDP, rear projection, front projection, or the likemay be used to form the display. The aspect ratio of the display may be4:3, 16:9, or the like. Furthermore, the resolution of the display maybe any appropriate resolution such as 480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i, 1080p orthe like. The format of information sent to the display may be anyappropriate format such as standard definition (SDTV), enhanceddefinition (EDTV), high definition (HD), or the like. The informationmay likewise be static, in which case, painted glass may be used to formthe display. Note that static information may be presented on a displaycapable of displaying dynamic information if desired.

The present disclosure frequently refers to a “control system”. Acontrol system, as that term is used herein, may be a computer processorcoupled with an operating system, device drivers, and appropriateprograms (collectively “software”) with instructions to provide thefunctionality described for the control system. The software is storedin an associated memory device (sometimes referred to as a computerreadable medium). While it is contemplated that an appropriatelyprogrammed general purpose computer or computing device may be used, itis also contemplated that hard-wired circuitry or custom hardware (e.g.,an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC)) may be used in placeof, or in combination with, software instructions for implementation ofthe processes of various embodiments. Thus, embodiments are not limitedto any specific combination of hardware and software.

A “processor” means any one or more microprocessors, CPU devices,computing devices, microcontrollers, digital signal processors, or likedevices. Exemplary processors are the INTEL PENTIUM or AMD ATHLONprocessors.

The term “computer-readable medium” refers to any medium thatparticipates in providing data (e.g., instructions) that may be read bya computer, a processor or a like device. Such a medium may take manyforms, including but not limited to, non-volatile media, volatile media,and transmission media. Non-volatile media include, for example, opticalor magnetic disks and other persistent memory. Volatile media includeDRAM, which typically constitutes the main memory. Transmission mediainclude coaxial cables, copper wire and fiber optics, including thewires that comprise a system bus coupled to the processor. Transmissionmedia may include or convey acoustic waves, light waves andelectromagnetic emissions, such as those generated during RF and IR datacommunications. Common forms of computer-readable media include, forexample, a floppy disk, a flexible disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, anyother magnetic medium, a CD-ROM, DVD, any other optical medium, punchcards, paper tape, any other physical medium with patterns of holes, aRAM, a PROM, an EPROM, a FLASH-EEPROM, a USB memory stick, a dongle, anyother memory chip or cartridge, a carrier wave, or any other medium fromwhich a computer can read.

Various forms of computer readable media may be involved in carryingsequences of instructions to a processor. For example, sequences ofinstruction (i) may be delivered from RAM to a processor, (ii) may becarried over a wireless transmission medium, and/or (iii) may beformatted according to numerous formats, standards or protocols. For amore exhaustive list of protocols, the term “network” is defined belowand includes many exemplary protocols that are also applicable here.

It will be readily apparent that the various methods and algorithmsdescribed herein may be implemented by a control system and/or theinstructions of the software may be designed to carry out the processesof the present invention.

Where databases are described, it will be understood by one of ordinaryskill in the art that (i) alternative database structures to thosedescribed may be readily employed, and (ii) other memory structuresbesides databases may be readily employed. Any illustrations ordescriptions of any sample databases presented herein are illustrativearrangements for stored representations of information. Any number ofother arrangements may be employed besides those suggested by, e.g.,tables illustrated in drawings or elsewhere. Similarly, any illustratedentries of the databases represent exemplary information only; one ofordinary skill in the art will understand that the number and content ofthe entries can be different from those described herein. Further,despite any depiction of the databases as tables, other formats(including relational databases, object based models, hierarchicalelectronic file structures, and/or distributed databases) could be usedto store and manipulate the data types described herein. Likewise,object methods or behaviors of a database can be used to implementvarious processes, such as those described herein. In addition, thedatabases may, in a known manner, be stored locally or remotely from adevice that accesses data in such a database. Furthermore, while unifieddatabases may be contemplated, it is also possible that the databasesmay be distributed and/or duplicated amongst a variety of devices.

As used herein a “network” is an environment wherein one or morecomputing devices may communicate with one another. Such devices maycommunicate directly or indirectly, via a wired or wireless medium suchas the Internet, LAN, WAN or Ethernet (or IEEE 802.3), Token Ring, orvia any appropriate communications means or combination ofcommunications means. Exemplary protocols include but are not limitedto: Bluetooth™, TDMA, COMA, GSM, EDGE, GPRS, WCDMA, AMPS, D-AMPS, IEEE802.11 (WI-FI), IEEE 802.3, SAP, SAS™ by IGT, OASIS™ by AristocratTechnologies, SDS by Bally Gaming and Systems, ATP, TCP/IP, gamingdevice standard (GDS) published by the Gaming Standards Association ofFremont, Calif., the best of breed (BOB), system to system (S2S), or thelike. Note that if video signals or large files are being sent over thenetwork, a broadband network may be used to alleviate delays associatedwith the transfer of such large files, however, such is not strictlyrequired. Each of the devices is adapted to communicate on such acommunication means. Any number and type of machines may be incommunication via the network. Where the network is the Internet,communications over the Internet may be through a website maintained bya computer on a remote server or over an online data network includingcommercial online service providers, bulletin board systems, and thelike. In yet other embodiments, the devices may communicate with oneanother over RF, cable TV, satellite links, and the like. Whereappropriate encryption or other security measures such as logins andpasswords may be provided to protect proprietary or confidentialinformation.

Communication among computers and devices may be encrypted to insureprivacy and prevent fraud in any of a variety of ways well known in theart. Appropriate cryptographic protocols for bolstering system securityare described in Schneier, APPLIED CRYPTOGRAPHY, PROTOCOLS, ALGORITHMS,AND SOURCE CODE IN C, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2d ed., 1996, which isincorporated by reference in its entirety.

The present disclosure provides, to one of ordinary skill in the art, anenabling description of several embodiments and/or inventions. Some ofthese embodiments and/or inventions may not be claimed in the presentdisclosure, but may nevertheless be claimed in one or more continuingapplications that claim the benefit of priority of the presentdisclosure,

The invention is claimed as follows:
 1. A gaming system servercomprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory device whichstores a plurality of instructions which, when executed by the at leastone processor, cause the at least one processor to: (a) at a first pointin time: (i) enable a player at a first gaming device to initiate a playof a game, (ii) determine a partial game outcome for the initiated playof the game, said determined partial game outcome not being associatedwith any monetary award at the first point in time, and (iii) cause thefirst gaming device to display the determined partial game outcome; and(b) at a second, subsequent point in time: (i) enable the player at asecond, different gaming device to request a completion of thedetermined partial game outcome for the initiated play of the game, (ii)determine a complete game outcome for the initiated play of the game,said determined complete game outcome based, at least in part, on thedetermined partial game outcome for the initiated play of the game,(iii) cause the second gaming device to display the determined completegame outcome, (iv) determine any monetary awards associated with thedetermined complete game outcome, and (v) cause the second gaming deviceto display any determined monetary awards associated with the determinedcomplete game outcome.
 2. The gaming system server of claim 1, whereinthe first gaming device is configured to communicate with the at leastone processor through an internet.
 3. The gaming system server of claim1, wherein the first gaming device includes a cellular phone associatedwith the player.
 4. The gaming system server of claim 1, wherein thegeneration of the partial game outcome occurs in association with anonline casino.
 5. The gaming system server of claim 1, whereinindependent of the determined partial game outcome and independent ofthe determined complete game outcome, at the first point in time, theinitiated play of the game is a wagering game associated withnon-monetary credits and at the second point in time, the initiated playof the game is a wagering game associated with monetary credits.
 6. Thegaming system server of claim 1, wherein when executed by the at leastone processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least oneprocessor to determine if the player is eligible to complete thedetermined partial game outcome and if the player is ineligible tocomplete the determined partial game outcome, not determine any completegame outcomes for the initiated play of the game and not cause thesecond display device to display any determined complete game outcomes.7. A gaming system server comprising: at least one processor; and atleast one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions which,when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least oneprocessor to: (a) receive a completion request from a player operating agaming device to complete at least one partial game outcome that waspreviously determined for the player, wherein the at least one partialgame outcome was obtained by the player through use of a first devicedifferent than the gaming device and when the at least one partial gameoutcome was previously determined, the at least one partial game outcomewas not associated with any monetary award, (b) determine that theplayer is entitled to at least one complete game outcome associated witha monetary award, (c) cause the gaming device to display the at leastone partial game outcome, (d) determine, based at least in part on theat least one partial game outcome, at least one complete game outcome,and (e) cause the monetary award associated with the at least onecomplete game outcome to be provided to the player.
 8. The gaming systemserver of claim 7, wherein the first device is configured to communicatewith the at least one processor through an internet.
 9. The gamingsystem server of claim 7, wherein the first device includes a cellularphone associated with the player.
 10. The gaming system server of claim7, wherein the generation of the partial game outcome occurs inassociation with an online casino.
 11. A method of operating a gamingsystem, said method comprising: (a) at a first point in time: (i)enabling a player at a first gaming device to initiate a play of a game,(ii) causing at least one processor to execute a plurality ofinstructions to determine a partial game outcome for the initiated playof the game, said determined partial game outcome not being associatedwith any monetary award at the first point in time, and (iii) causingthe first gaming device to display the determined partial game outcome;and (b) at a second, subsequent point in time: (i) enabling the playerat a second, different gaming device to request a completion of thedetermined partial game outcome for the initiated play of the game, (ii)causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality ofinstructions to determine a complete game outcome for the initiated playof the game, said determined complete game outcome based, at least inpart, on the determined partial game outcome for the initiated play ofthe game, (iii) causing the second gaming device to display thedetermined complete game outcome, (iv) causing the at least oneprocessor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine anymonetary awards associated with the determined complete game outcome,and (v) causing the second gaming device to display any determinedmonetary awards associated with the determined complete game outcome.12. The method of claim 11, wherein the first gaming device isconfigured to communicate with the at least one processor through aninternet.
 13. The method of claim 11, wherein the first gaming deviceincludes a cellular phone associated with the player.
 14. The method ofclaim 11, wherein the generation of the partial game outcome occurs inassociation with an online casino.
 15. The method of claim 11, whereinindependent of the determined partial game outcome and independent ofthe determined complete game outcome, at the first point in time, theinitiated play of the game is a wagering game associated withnon-monetary credits and at the second point in time, the initiated playof the game is a wagering game associated with monetary credits.
 16. Themethod of claim 11, which includes causing the at least one processor toexecute the plurality of instructions to determine if the player iseligible to complete the determined partial game outcome and if theplayer is ineligible to complete the determined partial game outcome,not determine any complete game outcomes for the initiated play of thegame and not cause the second display device to display any determinedcomplete game outcomes.
 17. The method of claim 11, which is providedthrough a data network.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the datanetwork is an internet.
 19. A method of operating a gaming system, saidmethod comprising: (a) receiving a completion request from a playeroperating a gaming device to complete at least one partial game outcomethat was previously determined for the player, wherein the at least onepartial game outcome was obtained by the player through use of a firstdevice different than the gaming device and when the at least onepartial game outcome was previously determined, the at least one partialgame outcome was not associated with any monetary award, (b) causing atleast one processor to execute a plurality of instructions to determinethat the player is entitled to at least one complete game outcomeassociated with a monetary award, (c) causing the gaming device todisplay the at least one partial game outcome, (d) causing the at leastone processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine,based at least in part on the at least one partial game outcome, atleast one complete game outcome, and (e) causing the monetary awardassociated with the at least one complete game outcome to be provided tothe player.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the first device isconfigured to communicate with the at least one processor through aninternet.
 21. The method of claim 19, wherein the first device includesa cellular phone associated with the player.
 22. The method of claim 19,wherein the generation of the partial game outcome occurs in associationwith an online casino.
 23. The method of claim 19, which is providedthrough a data network.
 24. The method of claim 23, wherein the datanetwork is an internet.